1, 2. (a) Yini lokungenteka yatfusa bantfu lebebatfunjiwe? (b) Yini letabashiya babambe wangentansi? (c) Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo?

ACONDZISWA nguNkulunkulu, Hezekeli sewendlulisele tiphrofetho letinyenti kubantfu labatfunjelwe eBhabhulona asebentisa imifanekiso. Siphrofetho sekucala lasendlulisela besicuketse umlayeto wesehlulelo, kanjalo nesesibili, nesesitsatfu, kuchubeke. (Hez. 3:24-26; 4:1-7; 5:1; 12:3-6) Ecinisweni, tonkhe letiphrofetho letendluliselwa nguHezekeli ngemifanekiso beticuketse imilayeto yetehlulelo letetfusako letimelene nemaJuda.

² Cabanga nje kutsi kungenteka betfuka kanganani bantfu labantfunjiwe ngesikhatsi Hezekeli ema embikwabo alungela kwendlulisela kubo lesinye siphrofetho. Kungenteka batibuta: ‘Ngumuphi-ke manje umlayeto lowetfusako latawusho?’ Kodvwa nyalo utabashiya babambe wangentasi. Siphrofetho latasendlulisela sehluke kakhulu. Simayelana nesetsembiso lesijabulisako, hhayi sehlulelo lesetfusako. (Hez. 37:23) Ngumuphi umlayeto lowendluliselwa nguHezekeli kulabantfu labatfunjiwe? Lomlayeto usho kutsini? Utitsintsa njani tinceku taNkulunkulu lamuhla? Ase sibone.

3. (a) Beyimelela ini indvuku “yaJuda”? (b) Kungani “indvuku ya-Efrayimu” beyimelela umbuso wetive letilishumi?

³ Jehova watjela Hezekeli kutsi atsatse tindvuku letimbili, kuyinye abhale kutsi “ngeyaJuda” bese kulelenye ubhala kutsi “ngeyaJosefa, indvuku ya-Efrayimu.” (Fundza Hezekeli 37:15, 16.) Betimelela ini letindvuku letimbili? Lendvuku lebeyibhalwe kutsi “ngeyaJuda” beyimelela umbuso wetive letimbili, lokusive sakaJuda nesakaBhenjamini. Emakhosi lebekaseluhlwini lwekutalwa lwaJuda ngiwo lebekabusa letive letimbili; futsi baphristi bebasebentelana nawo njengobe bebakhonta ethempelini lebeliseJerusalema. (2 Khr. 11:13, 14; 34:30) Ngako umbuso wakaJuda bewunemakhosi lavela eluhlwini lwekutalwa lwaDavide kanye nabaphristi labangemaLevi. “Indvuku ya-Efrayimu” beyimelela tive letilishumi tembuso waka-Israyeli. Kungani lendvuku beyihlotjaniswa na-Efrayimu? Inkhosi yekucala yaletive letilishumi bekunguJerobowamu, lobekavela esiveni saka-Efrayimu. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, sive saka-Efrayimu sabese siba sive lesinemandla ka-Israyeli. (Dut. 33:17; 1 Khos. 11:26) Naka kutsi umbuso wetive letilishumi taka-Israyeli bewute emakhosi lavela eluhlwini lwekutalwa lwaDavide kanye nebaphristi labangemaLevi.

4. Kufanekisela ini loku Hezekeli lakwentako ngaletindvuku letimbili? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesehluko.)

⁴ Hezekeli wabese utjelwa kutsi ahlanganise letindvuku letimbili kuze “tibe yindvuku yinye.” Njengobe labantfu lebebatfunjiwe bebabuke Hezekeli bamangele, bambuta batsi: “Utasitjela yini kutsi tisho kutsini letintfo?” Wabaphendvula watsi lomfanekiso bekawenta uveta loko lokutawentiwa nguJehova matfupha. Akhuluma ngaletindvuku letimbili, Jehova watsi: “Ngitawutenta tibe yindvuku yinye esandleni sami.”—Hez. 37:17-19.

5. Kusho kutsini loko lokwentiwa nguHezekeli? (Buka libhokisi lelitsi “Kuhlanganiswa Kwetindvuku Letimbili.”)

⁵ Ngemuva kwaloko, Jehova wabese uyachaza kutsi kusho kutsini lokuhlanganiswa kwaletindvuku letimbili. (Fundza Hezekeli 37:21, 22.) Bantfu labatfunjiwe bembuso wakaJuda wetive letimbili kanye nalabatfunjiwe bembuso waka-Israyeli wetive letilishumi (lokungu-Efrayimu) bebatawubuyela eveni laka-Israyeli, futsi bebatawufike babe “sive sinye.”—Jer. 30:1-3; 31:2-9; 33:7.

6. Ngutiphi tiphrofetho letihambelanako letikuHezekeli sehluko 37?

⁶ Cabanga nje kutsi tijabulisa kanjani letiphrofetho letimayelana nekubuyiselwa letibhalwe kuHezekeli sehluko 37! Jehova utawukhombisa kutsi unguNkulunkulu longabuyiseli nje kuphila kuphela (emavesi 1-14), kepha unguNkulunkulu lobuyisela nebunye (emavesi 15-28). Lomlayeto lotsintsa inhlitiyo lokuletiphrofetho letimbili ukhombisa kutsi: Lokufile kungaphindze kuphile, nalokuhlukene kungaphindze kuhlangane.

7. Indzaba leku-1 Tikhronike 9:2, 3, icinisekisa njani kutsi “kuNkulunkulu tonkhe tintfo tingenteka”?

⁷ Ngembono wemuntfu, inkhululeko kanye nebunye kulabantfu labatfunjiwe bekungeke kwenteke. * Kodvwa “kuNkulunkulu tonkhe tintfo tingenteka.” (Mat. 19:26) Jehova wasigcwalisa siphrofetho sakhe. Bantfu baNkulunkulu bakhululwa ekutfunjweni yiBhabhulona  nga-537 B.C.E. Ngemuva kwaloko, bantfu bayo yomibili lemibuso babuyela eJerusalema kuze bayosita ekubuyiseleni kukhonta kweliciniso. Kulandzisa lokuphefumulelwe kuyakufakazela loku, kutsi: “Labanye kwaba yintalelwane yaJuda, yaBhenjamini, ya-Efrayimu kanye neyaManase leyayihlala eJerusalema.” (1 Khr. 9:2, 3; Ezra 6:17) Kwenteka njengobe nje Jehova bekashito, bantfu bembuso wetive letilishumi baba munye nebantfu bembuso wakaJuda wetive letimbili.

8. (a) Yini Isaya laphrofetha ngayo? (b) Ngutiphi tintfo letimbili letibalulekile letikuHezekeli 37:21?

⁸ Eminyakeni lengaba ngu-200 ngaphambi kwaloko, umphrofethi Isaya bekaphrofethile kutsi kutawentekani kuma-Israyeli nakumaJuda ngemuva kwekutfunjwa. Waphrofetha kutsi Jehova bekayawucala kuhlanganisa “bantfu baka-Israyeli labasakatekile” nekutsi ‘bekayawuhlanganisa bantfu bakaJuda labasakatekele emagumbini lamane emhlaba,’ kuhlanganise nalabo ‘bebatawuphuma e-Asiriya.’ (Isa. 11:12, 13, 16) Njengobe Jehova bekashito, watsatsa ‘ema-Israyeli kuto tonkhe tive laya kuto.’ (Hez. 37:21) Naka nati tintfo letimbili letibalulekile: Nakakhuluma ngalabantfu labatfunjiwe, Jehova akasababiti “ngaJuda” “nanga-Efrayimu,” kodvwa sewubabita ngekutsi ngema-Israyeli, lokulicembu linye. Ngetulu kwaloko, ema-Israyeli akachazwa ngekutsi abuya eveni linye, lokuyiBhabhulona, kodvwa kutsiwa aphuma etiveni letehlukene—ecinisweni kutsiwa aphuma “kuto tonkhe tinhlangotsi.”

9. Jehova wabasita njani labantfu lebebabuya ekutfunjweni kutsi babe nebunye?

⁹ Ngemuva kwekutsi labantfu babuyele ka-Israyeli, Jehova wabasita njani kutsi babe nebunye? Wabaniketa belusi labamtsandzako  labafaka ekhatsi Zerubhabheli, uMpristi Lophakeme Joshuwa, Ezra naNehemiya. Nkulunkulu waphindze wabeka baphrofethi labafaka ekhatsi Hagayi, Zakhariya naMalakhi. Onkhe lamadvodza letsembekile asebenta ngekutimisela kuze akhutsate lesive kutsi silandzele ticondziso taNkulunkulu. (Neh. 8:2, 3) Ngetulu kwaloko, Jehova wavikela sive saka-Israyeli ngekutsi ente emachinga lebekahlelwe titsa tebantfu bakhe angaphumelile.—Esta 9:24, 25; Zak. 4:6.

10. Yini Sathane lagcine aphumelele kuyenta?

¹⁰ Nanobe Jehova enta tonkhe letintfo kuze akhombise ema-Israyeli kutsi uyawatsandza, linyenti lawo lehluleka kubambelela ekukhonteni lokuhlantekile. Tento tawo tibhaliwe etincwadzini teliBhayibheli letabhalwa ngemuva kwekubuya kwawo ekutfunjweni. (Ezra 9:1-3; Neh. 13:1, 2, 15) Ecinisweni, ingakapheli iminyaka lengu-100 abuyile, ema-Israyeli akhwesha kakhulu ekukhonteni lokuhlantekile kangangekutsi Jehova waze wawancenga watsi: “Buyelani kimi.” (Mal. 3:7) Ngesikhatsi Jesu afika lamhlabeni, inkholo yemaJuda beseyehlukene ekhatsi yaba ngemacembu lamanyenti lebekaholwa belusi labangaketsembeki. (Mat. 16:6; Mak. 7:5-8) Sathane bekaphumelele ekwenteni labantfu kutsi babebete bunye. Nanobe kunjalo, siphrofetho saJehova sekutsi kube nebunye besitawugcwaliseka. Kanjani?

11. (a) Yini Jehova layembula mayelana nesiphrofetho sakhe sebunye? (b) Yini Sathane laphindze wetama kuyenta ngemuva kwekucoshwa ezulwini?

¹¹ Fundza Hezekeli 37:24. Jehova wembula kutsi siphrofetho sakhe sekutsi bantfu babe nebunye besitawugcwaliseka ngalokuphelele kubantfu bakhe ngemuva kwekutsi ‘inceku yakhe Davide’ lokunguJesu, icale kubusa njengeNkhosi, futsi loko kwenteka nga-1914. * (2 Sam. 7:16; Luk. 1:32) Ngaleso sikhatsi, ema-Israyeli langekwemvelo atsatselwa sikhundla ngu-Israyeli waNkulunkulu, lokungulabagcotjiwe. (Jer. 31:33; Gal. 3:29) Sathane waphindze wetama kucedza bunye emkhatsini webantfu baNkulunkulu, ikakhulukati ngemuva kwekucoshwa kwakhe ezulwini. (Semb. 12:7-10) Nasi sibonelo, ngemuva kwekufa kweMzalwane Russell nga-1916, Sathane wabona litfuba lekubangela kwehlukana emkhatsini webazalwane labagcotjiwe ngekutsi asebentise tihlubuki. Kodvwa kungakapheli sikhatsi lesinganani, letihlubuki tayishiya inhlangano. Sathane waphindze waphumelela ekufakeni ejele bazalwane lebebahola ngaleso sikhatsi, kepha naloko akuzange kubacedze bantfu baNkulunkulu. Bazalwane labagcotjiwe labachubeka betsembekile kuJehova, bebasolo banebunye.

12. Kungani imetamo yaSathane yekuhlukanisa Israyeli waNkulunkulu yehluleka?

¹² Ngalokwehlukile kulokwenteka ku-Israyeli longekwemvelo, Israyeli waNkulunkulu wamelana nemachinga aSathane ekubangela kwehlukana. Kungani imetamo yaSathane yehluleka? Kungobe labagcotjiwe benta konkhe lokusemandleni abo kuze balalele timiso taJehova. Umphumela waloko kutsi atfola sivikelo seNkhosi yawo, lokunguJesu Khristu lochubeka ancoba Sathane.—Semb. 6:2.

13. Sisifundzisa liphi liciniso lelibalulekile siphrofetho lesimayelana nekuhlanganiswa kwetindvuku letimbili?

¹³ Lamuhla, sibaluleke ngani lesiphrofetho sekuhlanganiswa kwetindvuku letimbili? Naka kutsi liphuzu lalesiphrofetho belikukhombisa kutsi emacembu lamabili angahlangana njani abe licembu linye. Ngetulu kwaloko, lesiphrofetho sikhombisa kutsi nguJehova loletsa lobunye. Ngako nguliphi liciniso lelibalulekile lelimayelana nekukhonta lokuhlantekile lelivetwa ngulomfanekiso losiphrofetho wekuhlanganisa tindvuku letimbili? Ngemavi lamelula nje: Jehova lucobo lwakhe utawenta kutsi tikhonti takhe tibe “yindvuku yinye.”—Hez. 37:19.

14. Kusukela nga-1919, siphrofetho lesimayelana nekuhlanganiswa kwetindvuku sigcwaliseke njani ngelizinga lelikhulu?

¹⁴ Kusukela nga-1919, ngemuva kwekutsi bantfu baNkulunkulu bahlantwe, futsi babe yincenye yemndeni waNkulunkulu lesiphrofetho sekuhlanganiswa kwetindvuku letimbili sacala kugcwaliseka ngelizinga lelikhulu. Ngaleso sikhatsi, linyenti lalabo lebebahlanganiswa kuze babe nebunye bebanelitsemba lekuba ngemakhosi nebaphristi ezulwini. (Semb. 20:6) Ngemcondvo longumfanekiso, labagcotjiwe bebafana nendvuku “yaJuda,” lokusive lebesinemakhosi laseluhlwini lwekutalwa lwaDavide kanye nebaphristi labangemaLevi. Kodvwa ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, lamaKhristu lagcotjiwe ahlanganiswa nebantfu labanyenti kakhulu labanelitsemba lekuphila emhlabeni. Labantfu bafana ‘nendvuku ya-Efrayimu,’ lebekusive lebesite emakhosi laseluhlwini lwekutalwa lwaDavide kanye nebaphristi labangemaLevi. Omabili lamacembu abantfu baJehova labakhonta ngebunye, futsi angaphansi kweNkhosi yinye, lokunguJesu Khristu.—Hez. 37:24.

15. Emavi lasiphrofetho lakuHezekeli 37:26, 27 agcwaliseka njani lamuhla?

¹⁵ Siphrofetho saHezekeli siveta kutsi bantfu labanyenti bebayawuba nesifiso sekuhlanganyela nemaKhristu lagcotjiwe ekukhonteni lokuhlantekile. Naku Jehova lakusho ngebantfu bakhe: ‘Ngitabandzisa’ futsi “lithende lami liyawuba ngetulu kwabo.” (Hez. 37:26, 27; umbhalo longentasi.) Lamavi asenta sikhumbule emavi lashiwo ngumphostoli Johane ngemuva kweminyaka lengu-700 kuphile Hezekeli, latsi “Loyo lohleti esihlalweni sebukhosi utawumisa lithende lakhe” etikwesicumbi lesikhulu. (Semb. 7:9, 15) Lamuhla, emaKhristu lagcotjiwe kanye nesicumbi lesikhulu bahleti ngaphansi kwelithende laNkulunkulu lelisivikelo, njengesive sinye, lesibantfu bakhe.

16. Ngusiphi siphrofetho lesashiwo nguZakhariya mayelana nekuhlanganiswa kwa-Israyeli waNkulunkulu kanye nalabo labanelitsemba lekuphila emhlabani?

¹⁶ Zakhariya longulomunye walababuya ekutfunjweni, naye waphrofetha ngalobunye lebebutawuba khona emkhatsini wemaKhristu lagcotjiwe kanye nalabo labatawuphila emhlabeni. Watsi “emadvodza langu-10 lavela” etiveni “ayawubambisisa umphetfo wesembatfo semJuda,” atsi: “Sifuna kuhamba nani, ngobe sivile kutsi Nkulunkulu unani.” (Zak. 8:23) Ligama lelitsi ‘umJuda’ alisho umuntfu munye, kodvwa lisho sicumbi sebantfu, futsi ligama lelitsi “unani” lamuhla lisho emaKhristu lagcotjiwe lasele nobe emaJuda aNkulunkulu. (Rom. 2:28, 29) “Emadvodza langu-10” amelela labo  labanelitsemba lekuphila emhlabeni. ‘Babambisisa’ labagcotjiwe futsi ‘bahamba’ nabo. (Isa. 2:2, 3; Mat. 25:40) Emavi latsi “ayawubambisisa” nalatsi “sifuna kuhamba nani” aveta bunye lobuphelele emkhatsini walamacembu lamabili.

17. Jesu wabuchaza njani lobunye lesinabo lamuhla?

¹⁷ Ngesikhatsi Jesu atichaza ngekutsi ungumelusi locondzisa timvu takhe (labagcotjiwe), kanye ‘naletinye timvu’ (labo labanelitsemba lekuphila emhlabeni) futsi atsi titawuba “ngumhlambi munye,” kungenteka bekacabanga ngesiphrofetho saHezekeli lesikhuluma ngebunye. (Joh. 10:16; Hez. 34:23; 37:24, 25) Lamavi aJesu newebaphrofethi basendvulo abuchaza kahle kakhulu bunye lesibujabulelako lamuhla, ngisho nobe sinaliphi litsemba! Inkholo yemanga seyehlukene ekhatsi yaba ngemacembu lamanyenti kodvwa tsine sijabulela bunye lobusimangaliso.

18. Njengobe kuvetiwe kuHezekeli 37:28, kungani kubaluleke kakhulu kutsi bantfu baNkulunkulu bangabi ‘yincenye yelive’?

¹⁸ Emavi ekugcina alesiphrofetho saHezekeli lesikhuluma ngebunye acinisekisa kutsi lobunye lesinabo angeke buze buphele. (Fundza Hezekeli 37:28.) Bantfu baJehova banebunye ngenca yekutsi indzawo yakhe lengcwele nobe kukhonta lokuhlantekile ‘kusemkhatsini wabo.’ Lendzawo yaNkulunkulu lengcwele itawuhlala isemkhatsini wabo kuphela nje nabatawuchubeka batingcwelisa nobe nabatawutigcina behlukile kulelive laSathane. (1 Khor. 6:11; Semb. 7:14) Jesu wakugcizelela kubaluleka kwekungabi yincenye yalelive. Ngesikhatsi athantazela  bafundzi bakhe ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni, watsi: “Babe Longcwele, bavikele . . . kuze babe munye . . . Abasiyo incenye yelive . . . Bangcwelise ngeliciniso.” (Johane 17:11, 16, 17) Naka indlela Jesu lahlobanisa ngayo kuba “munye” kanye ‘nekungabi yincenye yelive.’

19. (a) Singakhombisa njani kutsi ‘silingisa Nkulunkulu’? (b) Ngebusuku bekugcina ngaphambi kwekufa kwakhe, Jesu wagcizelela liphi liciniso lelibalulekile mayelana nebunye?

¹⁹ Lelivesi ngilolodvwa eBhayibhelini lapho khona Jesu asebentisa emavi latsi “Babe Longcwele” nakakhuluma naNkulunkulu. Jehova uhlantekile futsi ulungile. Wayala ema-Israyeli watsi: “Kufanele nibe ngcwele, ngobe mine ngingcwele.” (Lev. 11:45) Njengobe ‘silingisa Nkulunkulu,’ sifuna kuwulalela lomyalo kuko konkhe kutiphatsa kwetfu. (Ef. 5:1; 1 Phet. 1:14, 15) Nalisetjentiswa kubantfu, ligama lelitsi “ngcwele” lisho ‘kutehlukanisa.’ Kungako ngebusuku bekugcina ngaphambi kwekufa kwakhe, Jesu wagcizelela kubafundzi bakhe kutsi bebatawuchubeka banebunye nangabe bebatawutigcina behlukile kulelive nekwehlukana kwalo.

20, 21. (a) Yini leyenta sisetsembe kakhulu sivikelo saJehova? (b) Yini lotimisele kuyenta?

²⁰ Lobunye lobumangalisako lobusemkhatsini waBoFakazi BaJehova emhlabeni wonkhe lamuhla bubufakazi bekutsi Jehova wasiphendvula sicelo saJesu lesitsi: “Bavikele ngenca yalomubi.” (Fundza Johane 17:14, 15.) Ecinisweni, kubona kutsi Sathane wehlulekile kucedza bunye kubantfu baNkulunkulu kusenta sisetsembe kakhulu sivikelo saNkulunkulu. Esiphrofethweni saHezekeli, Jehova waveta kutsi letindvuku letimbili betitawuba yindvuku yinye esandleni sakhe. Ngako ngalokusimangaliso, Jehova uhlanganise bantfu bakhe baba ngephansi kwesandla sakhe lesisivikelo, lapho Sathane angeke akhone kufika khona.

²¹ Yini-ke lokufanele sitimisele kuyenta? Kufanele sente konkhe lokusemandleni etfu kuze sifake sandla kulobunye betfu lobuligugu lesibujabulelako. Nguyiphi indlela lebalulekile ngamunye wetfu langakwenta ngayo loku? Kutsi sihlale sikhonta Nkulunkulu ngendlela lehlantekile ethempelini lakhe. Etehlukweni letilandzelako, sitawucoca ngekutsi kuhlanganisani kukhonta lokunjalo.