‘Vuyani Ngonaphakade Koko Ndikudalayo’
Isahluko Samashumi Amabini Anesithandathu
‘Vuyani Ngonaphakade Koko Ndikudalayo’
1. Ngawaphi amazwi akhuthazayo awabhalwa ngumpostile uPetros, yaye kubuzwa wuphi umbuzo?
NGABA kuya kuze kuphele okungekho sikweni nokubandezeleka? Ngaphezu kweminyaka eli-1 900 eyadlulayo, umpostile uPetros wabhala la mazwi akhuthazayo, athi: “Thina ke silindele amazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha, ngokwesithembiso [sikaThixo], apho kumi ubulungisa.” (2 Petros 3:13) UPetros, kunye nabanye abakhonzi bakaThixo abaninzi abathembekileyo ebudeni beenkulungwane, bakhangela phambili kwimini ezukileyo yokuphela kokungekho sikweni, ingcinezelo nogonyamelo, kuze kwesamele ubulungisa. Ngaba sinokuqiniseka ukuba esi sithembiso siza kuzaliseka?
2. Nguwuphi umprofeti owathetha ‘ngamazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha,’ yaye ziziphi iindlela esizaliseka ngazo eso siprofeto samandulo?
2 Ewe, sinako ukuqiniseka! Xa uPetros wathetha ‘ngamazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha,’ wayengavelisi ingcamango entsha. Malunga nama-800 eminyaka ngaphambili, uYehova wathetha amazwi afanayo, esebenzisa umprofeti uIsaya. Eso sithembiso samandulo sazaliseka ngomkhamo omncinane ngowama-537 B.C.E. xa amaYuda akhululwayo ekuthinjweni kwaseBhabhiloni, aza abuyela elizweni lawo. Kodwa eso siprofeto sikaIsaya sinenzaliseko ezukileyo namhlanje, yaye sikhangele phambili kwinzaliseko yaso echulumancisa ngakumbi kwihlabathi elitsha likaThixo elizayo. Eneneni, isiprofeto esichukumis’ intliziyo esidluliselwe ngoIsaya sisithela thsuphe ngeentsikelelo uThixo azigcinele abo bamthandayo.
UYehova Ubongoza “Isizwana Esineenkani”
3. Nguwuphi umbuzo esiwuphendulelwayo kuIsaya isahluko 65?
3 Khumbula ukuba uIsaya 63:15–64:12 uqulethe umthandazo wesiprofeto uIsaya awenzela amaYuda asekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni. Njengoko kuboniswa ngokucacileyo emazwini kaIsaya, amaYuda amaninzi akamnquli ngomphefumlo uphela uYehova, kodwa amanye aye aguquka aza abuyela kuye. Ngaba ke ngoku uYehova uza kulubuyisa olo hlanga ngenxa yaloo ntsalela iguqukileyo? Impendulo siyifumana kuIsaya isahluko 65. Kodwa phambi kokuba achaze ngokuhlangulwa kweqaqobana elithembekileyo, uYehova uqala achaze ngokugwetywa kwabaninzi abangenalo ukholo.
4. (a) Ngokungafaniyo nabantu bakhe abavukelayo, ngoobani abaza kumfuna uYehova? (b) Umpostile uPawulos wamsebenzisa njani uIsaya 65:1, 2?
4 UYehova uye wakunyamezela ukuvukela ngokuzingisileyo kwabantu bakhe. Noko ke, liza kufika ixesha lokuba abayekele kwiintshaba zabo aze amkele ezinye iintlanga. Esebenzisa uIsaya, uYehova uthi: “Ndizivumele ndafunwa ngabo babengandibuzi. Ndizivumele ndafunyanwa ngabo babengandifunanga. Ndathi, ‘Ndim lo, ndim lo!’ kulo uhlanga olwalungabizanga egameni lam.” (Isaya 65:1) Ilusizi into yokuba iintlanga ziza kuza kuYehova kodwa wona amaYuda angabantu bakhe bomnqophiso aza kwala ukwenjenjalo. AsingoIsaya kuphela umprofeti oxela kwangaphambili ukuba ekugqibeleni uThixo uza kunyula isizwe ebesingaziwa ngaphambili. (Hoseya 1:10; 2:23) Umpostile uPawulos wacaphula uIsaya 65:1, 2 ngokusuka kwiSeptuagint ukuze angqine ukuba abantu beentlanga babeza kufumana “ubulungisa obuphuma elukholweni” nangona wona amaYuda emvelo abugatyayo.—Roma 9:30; 10:20, 21.
5, 6. (a) Nguwuphi umnqweno onyanisekileyo aye wawubonakalisa uYehova, kodwa baye basabela njani abantu bakhe? (b) Yintoni esinokuyifunda kwindlela uYehova aqhubana ngayo noYuda?
5 UYehova uchaza isizathu sokuba eza kuvumela ukuba abantu bakhe behlelwe yintlekele, esithi: “Izandla zam ndizolule imini yonke kwisizwana esineenkani, eso sihamba ngendlela engalunganga, emva kweengcamango zaso.” (Isaya 65:2) Ukolula izandla kubonisa ukumema okanye ukubongoza. UYehova akazolulanga ixesha nje elifutshane izandla zakhe, kodwa imini yonke. Umnqweno wakhe osuk’ entliziyweni ngowokuba uYuda abuyele kuye. Ukanti, aba bantu baneenkani baye bala ukwenjenjalo.
6 Esinjani sona ukuchukumis’ intliziyo isifundo esisifundayo emazwini kaYehova! Ufuna sisondele kuye kuba unguThixo ongenekayo. (Yakobi 4:8) Kwakhona la mazwi asibonisa ukuba uYehova uthobekile. (INdumiso 113:5, 6) Kaloku, uye waqhubeka ezolulile izandla zakhe, ebabongoza abantu bakhe ukuba babuyele kuye phezu kwako nje ukuba bemenze ‘waziva ebuhlungu’ ngokuba neenkani kwabo. (INdumiso 78:40, 41) Kuphela kube semva kokubabongoza kangangeenkulungwane awathi ekugqibeleni wabanikela kwiintshaba zabo. Sekunjalo, akabagatyi abo bathobekileyo phakathi kwabo.
7, 8. Abantu bakaYehova abaneenkani baye bamcaphukisa njani?
7 La maYuda aneenkani amcaphukisa ngokuphindaphindiweyo uYehova ngehambo yawo elihlazo. UYehova uzichaza izenzo zawo ezicaphukisayo ngokuthi: “Aba bantu [bandicaphukisa] rhoqo ebusweni bam kanye, bebingelela emiyezweni yaye beqhumisa imibingelelo phezu kwezitena, behlala phakathi kweendawo zokungcwaba, bechitha ubusuku kwizindlwana zokulinda, besidla inyama yehagu, ezityeni zabo ingumhluzi wezinto ezingcolileyo; abo bathi, ‘Namathela kuwe. Musa ukusondela kum, kuba ngokuqinisekileyo ndiya kudlulisela ubungcwele kuwe.’ Aba bangumsi emathatheni am, umlilo ovutha imini yonke.” (Isaya 65:3-5) Aba bahanahanisi bamcaphukisa ‘kanye ebusweni bakhe’ uYehova—binzana elo elisenokubhekisela ekuboniseni indelelo nokungabi nantlonelo. Abenzi mizamo yokufihla izenzo zabo ezingamasikizi. Ngaba akulozothe na ukwenza izono kanye phambi kwaLowo bebefanele bamzukise baze bamthobele?
8 Eneneni, aba boni bazenza amalungisa bathi kwamanye amaYuda: ‘Khwelelani kuthi, kuba singcwele kunani.’ Olunjani lona uhanahaniso! Aba “bahanahanisi” benza imibingelelo neziqhumiso koothixo bobuxoki, abagatywayo nguMthetho kaThixo. (Eksodus 20:2-6) Bahlala phakathi kwamangcwaba, nto leyo ebenza bangahlambuluki ngokoMthetho. (Numeri 19:14-16) Batya inyama yehagu, nokutya okungahlambulukanga. a (Levitikus 11:7) Sekunjalo, izenzo zabo zonqulo zibenza bazibone bengcwele kunamanye amaYuda, kangangokuba bade babongoze abanye abantu ukuba bakhwelele kubo ukuze bangangcwaliswa, okanye bahlanjululwe, ngokunxulumana nabo. Noko ke, leyo asiyondlela uThixo ofuna “uzinikelo olupheleleyo” azibona ngayo izinto!—Duteronomi 4:24.
9. UYehova ubagqala njani aboni abazenza amalungisa?
9 Kunokuba abagqale aba bantu bazenza amalungisa njengabangcwele, uYehova uthi: “Bangumsi emathatheni am.” Igama lesiHebhere elithetha “impumlo” okanye “amathatha” libhekisela ekubeni nomsindo. Kwanelithi umsi libhekisela kumsindo ovuthayo kaYehova. (Duteronomi 29:20) Unqulo-zithixo olunezothe abaye babandakanyeka kulo abantu luye lwamvusela umsindo ovuthayo uYehova.
10. UYehova uza kuwavuza njani amaYuda ngezono zawo?
10 Ngenxa yokusesikweni kwakhe, uYehova akanakubayeka angabohlwayi aba boni bangabom. UIsaya ubhala athi: “‘Khangela! Kubhaliwe phambi kwam. Andiyi kuthi cwaka, kodwa ndiza kunikela umvuzo; ndiza kunikela umvuzo esifubeni sabo, ngenxa yeziphoso zabo nangenxa yeziphoso zookhokho babo ngaxeshanye,’ utsho uYehova. ‘Ngenxa yokuba baqhumise imibingelelo ezintabeni, nasezindulini bandingcikivile, kanjalo ndiza kuwulinganisela umvuzo wabo okokuqala ezifubeni zabo.’” (Isaya 65:6, 7) La maYuda aye amgculela uYehova, ngokubandakanyeka kwawo kunqulo lobuxoki. Alwenze unqulo loThixo oyinyaniso lwabonakala lungekho bhetele nganto kunolo lweentlanga eziwangqongileyo. ‘Ngenxa yeziphoso zawo,’ eziquka unqulo-zithixo nokunxibelelana nemimoya, uYehova uza kuwabuyekeza ‘ezifubeni zawo.’ Ngokucacileyo igama elithi “ezifubeni” libhekisela kwisingxobo sesambatho sangaphezulu ababethi abathengisi bafake kuso umlinganiselo woko kuthengiweyo. (Luka 6:38) Ngokubhekisele kula maYuda awexukileyo, intsingiselo yoku icacile—uYehova uza kuwanika umlinganiselo ‘womvuzo,’ okanye wesohlwayo esiwafaneleyo. UThixo wokusesikweni uza kuwabuyekeza. (INdumiso 79:12; Yeremiya 32:18) Ekubeni uYehova engaguquguquki, sinokuba nentembelo yokuba ngexesha lakhe elifanelekileyo, uza kuzisa isohlwayo esifanayo kule nkqubo ingendawo yezinto.—Malaki 3:6.
“Ngenxa Yabakhonzi Bam”
11. UYehova ubonisa njani ukuba uza kuyisindisa intsalela ethembekileyo?
11 Ngaba uYehova uza kuba nenceba kwabo bathembekileyo phakathi kwabantu bakhe? UIsaya uyachaza, esithi: “Utsho uYehova ukuthi: ‘Ngendlela efanayo neyokufunyanwa kwewayini entsha ezihlokweni aze uthile kufuneke athi, “Musa ukuyonakalisa, ngenxa yokuba kukho intsikelelo kuyo,” ndiya kwenjenjalo nam ngenxa yabakhonzi bam ukuze ndingonakalisi wonk’ ubani. Ndiza kuvelisa inzala kuYakobi nakuYuda indlalifa enyuliweyo yeentaba zam; yaye abanyuliweyo bam baya kudla ilifa, nabakhonzi bam baya kuhlala apho.’” (Isaya 65:8, 9) Ngokuthelekisa abantu bakhe nesihloko seediliya, uYehova usebenzisa umzekeliso abawuqonda kakuhle. Iidiliya zixhaphakile kwelo lizwe, yaye iwayini eyenziwa ngeediliya iyintsikelelo eluntwini. (INdumiso 104:15) Apha kusenokuba kubhekiselwa kwisihloko esineediliya ezithile ezilungileyo, kodwa kungekhona zonke. Okanye kusenokuba kubhekiselwa kwisihloko esinye esilungileyo, ngoxa ezinye izihloko zingavuthwanga okanye zibolile. Kodwa ingongoma isekubeni, umnini-sidiliya akayi kuzilahla iidiliya ezilungileyo. Ngoko uYehova uyabaqinisekisa abantu bakhe ukuba akayi kululahla ngokupheleleyo olo hlanga kodwa uza kuyisindisa intsalela ethembekileyo. Uthi le ntsalela ithembekileyo iza kuzidla ilifa ‘iintaba’ zakhe, oko kukuthi, iYerusalem nelizwe lakwaYuda, lizwe elo elineenduli uYehova aligqala njengelakhe.
12. Ziziphi iintsikelelo eziza kufunyanwa yintsalela ethembekileyo?
12 Ziziphi iintsikelelo eziza kufunyanwa yile ntsalela ithembekileyo? UYehova uchaza esithi: “ISharon iya kuba lidlelo lezimvu nentili yaseAkore ibe yindawo yokuphumla iinkomo, yabantu bam abaya kube bendifunile.” (Isaya 65:10) Imfuyo ibaluleke kakhulu kumaYuda amaninzi, yaye ukwanda kwamadlelo kuwazisela indyebo ngamaxesha oxolo. Apha uYehova ukhankanya amazwe amabini ahlukene ngokupheleleyo ukuze abonise ubukho boxolo nendyebo. Ngasentshona kweNtili yaseSharon, edume ngobuhle nangokuchuma, luNxweme lweMeditera. INtlambo yaseAkore ikumda wasemntla-mpuma welizwe. (Yoshuwa 15:7) Ebudeni bokusiwa kwawo ekuthinjweni, le mimandla iza kuba yinkangala, ndawonye nelizwe liphela. Noko ke, uYehova uthembisa ukuba ekubuyeni kwale ntsalela ekuthinjweni le mimandla iza kuba ngamadlelo amahle.—Isaya 35:2; Hoseya 2:15.
Ukukholosa ‘Ngothixo WeThamsanqa’
13, 14. Luluphi uqheliselo olubonisa ukuba abantu bakaThixo bamshiyile, yaye yintoni eza kwenzeka kubo ngenxa yoko?
13 Ngoku isiprofeto sikaIsaya siphethulela ingqalelo kwabo bamshiyileyo uYehova baza babandakanyeka ngamandla kunqulo-zithixo. Sithi: “Nina ningabo bamshiyayo uYehova, abo bayilibalayo intaba yam engcwele, abo bamisela ngolungelelwano uthixo weThamsanqa itafile nabo bazalisela uthixo weSihlo iwayini ephithikeziweyo.” (Isaya 65:11) Ukubeka itafile yezidlo neziselo phambi ‘kothixo weThamsanqa’ ‘nothixo weSihlo,’ kubonisa ukuba la maYuda awexukileyo angene zwabha kuqheliselo lonqulo-zithixo lweentlanga zobuhedeni. b Yintoni eza kwenzeka kwabo bathi ngobuyatha bakholose ngaba thixo?
14 UYehova ubalumkisa ngokuphandle, esithi: “Ndiza kunimisela ikrele, yaye nonke niya kuqubuda ekuxhelweni; ngenxa yokuba ndabiza, anaphendula; ndathetha, anaphulaphula; naqhubeka nisenza okubi emehlweni am, nanyula nento endingayoliswanga yiyo.” (Isaya 65:12) UYehova uthi uza ‘kubamisela ikrele,’ oko kukuthi, intshabalalo, abo banqula uthixo wobuxoki weSihlo. UYehova ubabongoze ngokuphindaphindiweyo aba bantu ukuba baguquke ngokusebenzisa abaprofeti bakhe, kodwa abakhange bamnanze baza bakhetha ngenkani ukwenza oko bakwaziyo ukuba kubi emehlweni akhe. Enjani yona indelelo abayibonisileyo kuThixo! Njengoko uThixo ebelumkisile, olu hlanga luza kufikelwa lishwangusha elikhulu ngowama-607 B.C.E. xa uYehova evumela amaBhabhiloni ukuba ayitshabalalise iYerusalem netempile yayo. Ngelo xesha “uthixo weThamsanqa” akazukukwazi ukubakhusela abo bazinikele kuye kwaYuda naseYerusalem.—2 Kronike 36:17.
15. AmaKristu namhlanje asithobela njani isilumkiso esifumaneka kuIsaya 65:11, 12?
15 Namhlanje amaKristu okwenyaniso ayasithobela isilumkiso esifumaneka kuIsaya 65:11, 12. Akakholelwa ‘kwiThamsanqa,’ ngokungathi lingamandla athile angaphezu kwawemvelo okuzisela abantu okuhle. Ngoko akadyakrazi ngezinto zawo eziphathekayo ngokuthi angcakaze ngethemba lokuncedwa ‘nguthixo weThamsanqa.’ Aqinisekile ukuba abo bazinikela kulo thixo baza kuphulukana nako konke abanako ekugqibeleni, kuba uYehova uthi kwabo banjalo: “Ndiza kunimisela ikrele.”
“Khangela! Abakhonzi Bam Baya Kuba Nemihlali”
16. UYehova uza kubasikelela ngaziphi iindlela abakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo, kodwa yintoni eza kwehlela abo bamtyesheleyo?
16 Ekuchazeni isohlwayo sabo baye bamshiya uYehova, esi siprofeto sibalaselisa umahluko oza kubakho phakathi kwabanquli abanyanisekileyo bakaThixo kunye nabo bahanahanisayo. Sithi: “Itsho iNkosi enguMongami uYehova ukuthi: ‘Khangelani! Abakhonzi bam baya kudla, kodwa nina niya kulamba. Khangelani! Abakhonzi bam baya kusela, kodwa nina niya kunxanwa. Khangelani! Abakhonzi bam baya kuba nemihlali, kodwa nina niya kudana. Khangelani! Abakhonzi bam baya kumemelela ngovuyo ngenxa yemeko elungileyo yentliziyo, kodwa nina niya kukhala ngenxa yentliziyo ebuhlungu yaye niya kubhomboloza ngenxa yokuwa umoya.’” (Isaya 65:13, 14) UYehova uza kubasikelela abakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo. Baza kudanduluka, ngeentliziyo ezizaliswe luvuyo. Ukutya, ukusela, nokuvuya, ngamagama abonisa ukuba uYehova uza kuzanelisa ngokupheleleyo iintswelo zabanquli bakhe. Kanti bona abo bakhetha ukumtyeshela uYehova, baza kulamba yaye banxanwe ngokomoya. Iintswelo zabo aziyi kwaneliswa. Baza kukhala, babhomboloze, ngenxa yokubandezeleka nokuxinezeleka okuza kubafikela.
17. Kutheni abantu bakaThixo namhlanje benesizathu esihle sokumemelela ngovuyo?
17 La mazwi kaYehova ayichaza kakuhle imeko yokomoya yanamhlanje yabo bazibanga bekhonza uThixo. Noko ke, ngoxa izigidi ezikwiNgqobhoko ziza kuwa emoyeni, abanquli bakaYehova bona baza kumemelela ngovuyo. Yaye banesizathu esihle sokuvuya. Bondliwa ngokwaneleyo ngokomoya. UYehova ubanika intabalala yokutya kokomoya ngoncwadi lweBhayibhile nangeendibano zamaKristu. Enyanisweni, iinyaniso ezakhayo nezithembiso ezikhuthazayo eziseLizwini likaThixo zisenza sibe ‘kwimeko elungileyo yentliziyo’!
18. Yintoni eza kusala kwabo bamtyesheleyo uYehova, yaye kusenokuba kuthetha ntoni ukusetyenziswa kwegama labo ekwenzeni isifungo?
18 UYehova uhlabela mgama esithi kwabo bamtyesheleyo: “Ngokuqinisekileyo niya kulishiya igama lenu lisisifungo kwabanyuliweyo bam, yaye iNkosi enguMongami uYehova okunene iya kubulala ngamnye, kodwa abakhonzi bayo iya kubabiza ngelinye igama; khon’ ukuze nabani na ozisikelelayo emhlabeni azisikelele ngoThixo wokholo, naye nabani na owenza isifungo emhlabeni uya kufunga ngoThixo wokholo; ngenxa yokuba ukubandezeleka kwangaphambili okunene kuya kulityalwa nangenxa yokuba okunene kuya kufihlwa emehlweni am.” (Isaya 65:15, 16) Ekuphela kwento eza kusala kwabo bamtyeshelayo uYehova ligama labo, eliza kusetyenziswa kuphela ekufungeni, okanye ekuqalekiseni. Oku kusenokuthetha ukuba abo benza isifungo, baza kuthi: ‘Ukuba andisiphumezi esi sithembiso, mandiqalekiswe njengabo bawexuki.’ Kusenokuthetha nokuba igama labo liza kuba ngumfuziselo wesohlwayo sikaThixo kwabangendawo, njengelithi Sodom nelithi Gomora.
19. Abakhonzi bakaThixo baza kubizwa njani ngelinye igama, yaye yintoni eya kubenza babe nentembelo kuThixo wokholo? (Bona kwanombhalo osemazantsi.)
19 Hayi indlela eya kwahluka ngayo imeko yabakhonzi bakaThixo! Baya kubizwa ngelinye igama. Oko kubonisa imeko esikelelekileyo nozuko abaya kulunandipha elizweni labo. Abayi kufuna ntsikelelo nakuwuphi na uthixo wobuxoki okanye bafunge ngaso nasiphi na isithixo esingaphiliyo. Kunoko, baya kuzisikelela okanye bafunge ngoThixo wokholo. (Isaya 65:16, umbhalo osemazantsi) Abemi belizwe baya kuba nesizathu sokuba nentembelo epheleleyo kuThixo, kuba uya kube ezingqine engoziphumezayo izithembiso zakhe. c Njengoko eya kube ekhuselekile elizweni lawo, amaYuda aza kukhawuleza akulibale ukubandezeleka kwawo kwangaphambili.
“Ndidala Amazulu Amatsha Nomhlaba Omtsha”
20. Sazaliseka njani isithembiso sikaYehova ‘samazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha’ ngowama-537 B.C.E.?
20 Ngoku uYehova uyasandisa isithembiso sakhe sokuhlaziya intsalela eguqukileyo emva kokubuya kwayo ekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni. Esebenzisa uIsaya, uYehova uthi: “Yabona, ndidala amazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha; kwaye izinto zangaphambili aziyi kukhunjulwa, zinganyuki zithi qatha entliziyweni.” (Isaya 65:17) Isithembiso sikaYehova sohlaziyo siza kuzaliseka ngokuqinisekileyo, ngoko uthetha ngaso ngokungathi sele sizalisekile kakade. Esi siprofeto saqala ukuzaliseka ngowama-537 B.C.E. xa intsalela yamaYuda yabuyiselwa eYerusalem. Yintoni eyayifanekiselwa ‘ngamazulu amatsha’ ngelo xesha? Yayilulawulo lwaseYerusalem lukaZerubhabheli owayexhaswa nguMbingeleli Omkhulu uYoshuwa. Intsalela ebuyileyo yakwaYuda yabumba ‘umhlaba omtsha,’ ibutho elicocekileyo elaluthobelayo olo lawulo laza lancedisa ekumiselweni kwakhona konqulo olunyulu kwelo lizwe. (Ezra 5:1, 2) Uvuyo olwabangelwa lolo hlaziyo lwakugubungela konke ukubandezeleka kwangaphambili; oko kubandezeleka akuzange kuthi qatha nokuthi qatha engqondweni.—INdumiso 126:1, 2.
21. Ngawaphi amazulu amatsha awabakho ngowe-1914?
21 Noko ke, khumbula ukuba uPetros wasicaphula esi siprofeto sikaIsaya waza wabonisa ukuba sasiza kuzaliseka kwakhona kwixesha elizayo. Lo mpostile wabhala wathi: “Thina ke silindele amazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha, ngokwesithembiso sakhe, apho kumi ubulungisa.” (2 Petros 3:13) La mazulu matsha ekukudala elindelwe abakho ngowe-1914. UBukumkani bukaMesiya obazalwa ngaloo nyaka bulawula busezulwini, yaye uYehova ubunike igunya emhlabeni wonke. (INdumiso 2:6-8) Lo rhulumente woBukumkani, onomlawuli onguKristu kunye ne-144 000 elilawula naye, ungamazulu amatsha.—ISityhilelo 14:1.
22. Ngoobani abaza kubumba umhlaba omtsha, yaye ukuze balungele oko baxonxwa njani kanye ngoku?
22 Kuthekani ngomhlaba omtsha? Ngokufanayo nenzaliseko yamandulo, umhlaba omtsha uza kubunjwa ngabantu abakuvuyelayo ukuzithoba kulawulo lorhulumente omtsha wasezulwini. Kwanangoku, izigidi zabantu abanotyekelo olufanelekileyo ziyazithoba kulo rhulumente yaye zizabalazela ukulandela imithetho yakhe njengoko ifumaneka eBhayibhileni. Ziphuma kuzo zonke izizwe, iilwimi, neentlanga, yaye zisebenza kunye ekukhonzeni uKumkani olawulayo uYesu Kristu. (Mika 4:1-4) Yakuba idlulile le nkqubo ingendawo yezinto, eli qela liza kubumba umhlaba omtsha oza kuthi ekugqibeleni ube libutho labantu aboyika uThixo abazalise umhlaba phantsi kolawulo loBukumkani bukaThixo.—Mateyu 25:34.
23. Yiyiphi inkcazelo esiyifumana encwadini yeSityhilelo ngokuphathelele “izulu elitsha nomhlaba omtsha,” yaye siza kuzaliseka njani esi siprofeto?
23 Incwadi yeSityhilelo ichaza umbono umpostile uYohane awawubonayo wemini ezayo kaYehova, yokushenxiswa kwale nkqubo yezinto. Emva koko, uSathana uza kuvalelwa enzonzobileni. (ISityhilelo 19:11–20:3) Emva kwaloo nkcazelo, uYohane uphinda amazwi kaIsaya, ngokuthi: “Ndabona izulu elitsha nomhlaba omtsha.” Iindinyana ezilandelayo zengxelo yalo mbono uzukileyo zichaza ngexesha uYehova uThixo eya kuziphucula ngalo ngokupheleleyo iimeko zalo mhlaba. (ISityhilelo 21:1, 3-5) Ngokucacileyo, isithembiso esikuIsaya ‘samazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha’ siza kuzaliseka ngokuzukileyo kwihlabathi elitsha likaThixo! Phantsi korhulumente omtsha wasemazulwini, ibutho labantu elitsha lasemhlabeni liya kunandipha iparadesi yokomoya neyokoqobo. Ngokwenene siyakhuthaza isithembiso sokuba “izinto zangaphambili [ukugula, ukubandezeleka, nabanye ooyeha abathwaxa abantu] aziyi kukhunjulwa, zinganyuki zithi qatha entliziyweni.” Nantoni na esisenokuyikhumbula ngelo xesha ayisayi kusizisela intlungu edandathekisa abaninzi namhlanje.
24. Kutheni uYehova eza kukuvuyela ukuhlaziywa kweYerusalem, yaye yintoni engasayi kuphinda iviwe kwizitrato zeso sixeko?
24 Isiprofeto sikaIsaya sihlabela mgama sisithi: “Gcobani nize nivuye ngonaphakade koko ndikudalayo. Kuba yabona, ndidala iYerusalem ukuba ibe ngunobangela wovuyo nabantu bayo unobangela wokugcoba. Ndiza kuvuya ngeYerusalem, ndigcobe ngabantu bam; yaye asisayi kuphinda siviwe kuyo isandi sokulila okanye isandi sesikhalo esilusizi.” (Isaya 65:18, 19) AsingomaYuda kuphela aza kuvuyela ukubuyiselwa ezweni lawo kodwa noThixo uza kuvuya, kuba uza kuyenza ibe ntle iYerusalem—iphinde ibe sisazulu sonqulo lokwenyaniso emhlabeni. Isandi sokulilela ishwangusha eliyehleleyo, esaviwa kwizitrato zeso sixeko kumashumi eminyaka edluleyo, asisayi kuba saviwa kwakhona.
25, 26. (a) Ngomhla wethu, uYehova uyenza njani iYerusalem ibe “ngunobangela wovuyo”? (b) UYehova uza kuyisebenzisa njani iYerusalem Entsha, yaye kutheni sinesizathu sokugcoba nje namhlanje?
25 Nanamhlanje uYehova uyenza ‘iYerusalem ibe ngunobangela wovuyo.’ Njani? Njengoko sele sibonile, amazulu amatsha awabakho ngowe-1914 ekugqibeleni aza kuquka abalawuli abali-144 000, abaza kuba nesabelo kurhulumente wasezulwini. Achazwa esiprofetweni ngokuba ‘yiYerusalem Entsha.’ (ISityhilelo 21:2) Yile Yerusalem Entsha abhekisela kuyo uThixo ngokuthi: “Yabona, ndidala iYerusalem ukuba ibe ngunobangela wovuyo nabantu bayo unobangela wokugcoba.” UThixo uza kuyisebenzisa iYerusalem Entsha ukuthulula iintsikelelo ezininzi kuluntu oluthobelayo. Asisayi kuphinda siviwe isandi sokulila okanye isikhalo esilusizi, kuba uYehova uya kuzanelisa “izicelo zentliziyo [yethu].”—INdumiso 37:3, 4.
26 Enyanisweni, sinazo zonke izizathu zokugcoba namhlanje! Kungekudala uYehova uza kulingcwalisa igama lakhe elizukileyo ngokuthi atshabalalise bonke abo bachasileyo. (INdumiso 83:17, 18) Aya kwandula ke amazulu amatsha alawule ngokupheleleyo. Ezi zizizathu ezimangalisa ngokwenene zokugcoba nokuvuya ngonaphakade koko uThixo akudalayo!
Isithembiso Sekamva Elinqabisekileyo
27. UIsaya uluchaza njani unqabiseko oluza kunanditshwa ngamaYuda abuyele elizweni lawo?
27 Kwinzaliseko yokuqala, buza kuba njani ubomi bamaYuda abuyileyo phantsi kwamazulu amatsha? UYehova uthi: “Akusayi kuba sabakho usana oluneentsuku ezimbalwa ubudala kuloo ndawo, nendoda endala engayizalisekisanga imihla yayo; kuba umntu uya kufa enjengenkwenkwe, nangona eneminyaka elikhulu ubudala; aqalekiswe umoni eneminyaka elikhulu ubudala.” (Isaya 65:20) Esinjani sona ukuba sihle isithembiso sonqabiseko oluya kunanditshwa ngabo basekuthinjweni xa bebuyele elizweni labo! Ukufa kwequbuliso akuyi kuluhlasela usana, oluneentsuku ezimbalwa ubudala. Kwakhona ukufa akuyi kuyihlasela nendoda endala engekabuphili ngokupheleleyo ubomi bayo. d Hayi indlela akhuthaza ngayo la mazwi kaIsaya kumaYuda aza kubuyela kwaYuda! Aza kukhuseleka elizweni lawo, engenaxhala lokuba iintshaba ziza kuthimba iintsana zawo okanye zibulale amadoda awo.
28. Yintoni esiyifundayo emazwini kaYehova ngokuphathelele ubomi kwihlabathi elitsha phantsi koBukumkani bakhe?
28 Asixelela ntoni la mazwi kaYehova ngobomi kwihlabathi elitsha elizayo? Phantsi koBukumkani bukaThixo, mntwana ngamnye uya kuba nethemba lekamva elinqabisekileyo. Ukufa akusayi kumhlasela esakhula umntu owoyik’ uThixo. Kunoko, uluntu oluthobelayo luya kukhuseleka, lunqabiseke, lubunandiphe ubomi. Kuthekani ngabo bakhetha ukumvukela uThixo? Abanjalo baza kuphulukana nelungelo lokuphila. Kwanokuba umoni ovukelayo ‘uneminyaka elikhulu ubudala,’ uza kufa. Uya kube ‘eseyinkwenkwana’ xa kuthelekiswa neminyaka abesenokuyiphila—ubomi obungenasiphelo.
29. (a) Abantu abathobelayo bakaThixo baza kufumana luphi uvuyo kwilizwe lakwaYuda elibuyiselweyo? (b) Kutheni imithi ingumzekeliso ofanelekileyo wobomi obude? (Bona umbhalo osemazantsi.)
29 UYehova uyaqhubeka echaza indlela iimeko eziza kuba ngayo kwilizwe elihlaziyiweyo lakwaYuda, esithi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo baya kwakha izindlu baze bahlale kuzo; batyale izidiliya baze badle isiqhamo sazo. Abayi kwakha kuhlale abanye; abayi kutyala kudle abanye. Kuba njengemihla yomthi iya kuba njalo imihla yabantu bam; nomsebenzi wezandla zabanyuliweyo bam baya kuwusebenzisa ngokupheleleyo.” (Isaya 65:21, 22) Emva kokubuyela kwilizwe eliphanzileyo nelingenazindlu nazidiliya lakwaYuda, abantu abathobelayo bakaThixo baza kufumana uvuyo lokuhlala emakhayeni abo baze batye iziqhamo zezidiliya zabo. UThixo uya kuwusikelela umsebenzi wabo, yaye baya kuphila ubomi obude—njengemihla yomthi—banandiphe iziqhamo zemisebenzi yabo. e
30. Yiyiphi imeko evuyisayo abayinandiphayo abakhonzi bakaYehova namhlanje, yaye yintoni abaza kuyinandipha kwihlabathi elitsha?
30 Esi siprofeto siye sazaliseka kumhla wethu. Abantu bakaYehova baye bakhululeka ekuthinjweni kokomoya ngowe-1919 baza baqalisa ukulihlaziya ‘ilizwe’ labo nonqulo lwabo. Bamisela amabandla baza bahlakulela iziqhamo zokomoya. Oko kuphumele ekuthini, kwanangoku abantu bakaYehova banandiphe iparadesi yokomoya noxolo oluvela kuThixo. Sinokuqiniseka ukuba olo xolo luza kuqhubeka lufikelele nakwiParadesi yokoqobo. Asinakukwazi nokukuthelekelela oko uYehova aza kukufeza ngeentliziyo nangezandla ezivumayo zabanquli bakhe kwihlabathi elitsha. Hayi indlela ekuya kuvuyisa ngayo ukwakha ikhaya lakho uze uhlale kulo! Phantsi kolawulo loBukumkani, kuya kubakho imisebenzi emininzi eyanelisayo. Hayi indlela ekuya kuchulumancisa ngayo ukusoloko ‘ubona iziqhamo ezilungileyo’ zemisebenzi yakho! (INtshumayeli 3:13) Ngaba siya kuba nexesha elininzi ngokwaneleyo lokuyinandipha ngokupheleleyo imisebenzi yezandla zethu? Ewe, kunjalo kanye! Ubomi obungenasiphelo babantu abathembekileyo buya kuba “njengemihla yomthi”—amawakawaka eminyaka, nangaphezulu!
31, 32. (a) Ziziphi iintsikelelo eziya kunanditshwa ngabo babuyileyo ekuthinjweni? (b) Kwihlabathi elitsha, liliphi ithemba abaya kuba nalo abantu abathembekileyo?
31 UYehova uchaza iintsikelelo ezingakumbi eziza kufunyanwa ngabo babuyileyo ekuthinjweni, esithi: “Abayi kubulalekela ilize, bengayi kuzalela ukuphazamiseka; ngenxa yokuba bayinzala eyenziwe ngabasikelelweyo bakaYehova, nabaphume kubo bakunye nabo.” (Isaya 65:23) Loo maYuda abuyisiweyo aya kusikelelwa nguYehova, ngoko akayi kusebenzela ilize. Abazali abayi kuzala abantwana abaza kusuka nje bafe ngaphambi kwexesha. Aba bathinjwa abayi kuzinandipha bodwa ezi ntsikelelo; kodwa baya kuzinandipha kunye nenzala yabo. Ngangendlela azimisele ngayo uThixo ukuphumeza iimfuno zabantu bakhe, uthembisa athi: “Baya kuthi bengekamemezi, ndibaphendule; bathi besathetha, ndibe sendivile.”—Isaya 65:24.
32 UYehova uya kuzizalisekisa njani ezi zithembiso kwihlabathi elitsha elizayo? Kuza kufuneka silinde de kube lelo xesha. UYehova akasinikanga zonke iinkcukacha, kodwa sinokuqiniseka ukuba abantu abathembekileyo abayi kuphinda ‘babulalekele ilize.’ Isihlwele esikhulu esiza kusinda kwiArmagedon nabantwana abaza kuzalwa siso baza kuba nethemba lobomi obude obonwabisayo—ubomi obungunaphakade! Abo baza kuvuka kwabafileyo baze bakhethe ukuphila ngokuvisisana nemilinganiselo kaThixo, nabo baza kufumana uvuyo kwihlabathi elitsha. UYehova uya kubeva aze azanelise iintswelo zabo, bengekaceli nokucela. Eneneni, uYehova uya kusivula isandla sakhe aze ayanelise ‘iminqweno efanelekileyo yazo zonke izinto eziphilayo.’—INdumiso 145:16.
33. Xa amaYuda ebuyela elizweni lawo, izilwanyana ziya kuba seluxolweni ngayiphi ingqiqo?
33 Luza kuba lukhulu kangakanani olo xolo nonqabiseko oluthenjisiweyo? UYehova uyiqukumbela le nxalenye yesiprofeto ngokuthi: “‘Ingcuka nemvana ziya kudla kunye, nengonyama iya kudla iindiza njengenkunzi yenkomo; inyoka, kube luthuli ukutya kwayo. Aziyi kwenzakalisa okanye zibangele nawuphi na umonakalo entabeni yam yonke engcwele,’ utsho uYehova.” (Isaya 65:25) Xa intsalela yamaYuda athembekileyo ibuyela elizweni lawo, iza kunyanyekelwa nguYehova. Eneneni, ingonyama iya kudla umququ njengenkunzi yenkomo, kuba ingonyama ayiyi kuwenzakalisa amaYuda okanye imfuyo yawo. Esi sithembiso siqinisekile, kuba siqukumbela ngamazwi athi, “utsho uYehova.” Yaye ilizwi lakhe lisoloko lizaliseka!—Isaya 55:10, 11.
34. Yiyiphi indlela echulumancisayo azaliseka ngayo amazwi kaYehova namhlanje nakwihlabathi elitsha?
34 La mazwi kaYehova azaliseka ngendlela echulumancisayo phakathi kwabanquli bokwenyaniso namhlanje. Ukususela ngowe-1919, uThixo uye walisikelela ilizwe lokomoya labantu bakhe, walenza laba yiparadesi yokomoya. Abo bangene kule paradesi benza utshintsho oluphawulekayo ebomini babo. (Efese 4:22-24) Ngoncedo lomoya kaThixo, abantu ababekade bekhohlakele njengezilo zasendle—mhlawumbi ababexhaphaza yaye benzakalise abanye abantu—bayatshintsha babe mbuna. Ngenxa yoko, banandipha ukuba seluxolweni nokumanyana elunqulweni kunye namanye amakholwa. Iintsikelelo abazinandiphayo ngoku abantu bakaYehova kwiparadesi yabo yokomoya ziza kunabela kwiParadesi yokoqobo, apho uxolo oluya kubalasela ebantwini luya kudlulela nakwizilwanyana. Sinokuqiniseka ukuba ngexesha likaThixo elifanelekileyo, uya kuzaliseka umyalelo awawenza ntlandlolo eluntwini, esithi: “[Woyiseni umhlaba], nibe nobukhosi kwiintlanzi zolwandle nakwizidalwa eziphaphazelayo emazulwini nakuzo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo ezinambuzelayo emhlabeni.”—Genesis 1:28.
35. Kutheni sinesizathu esihle ‘sokuvuya ngonaphakade’?
35 Hayi indlela esinombulelo ngayo ngesithembiso sikaYehova sokudala “amazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha”! Eso sithembeiso sazaliseka ngowama-537 B.C.E. yaye sizaliseka ngakumbi namhlanje. Oku kuzaliseka kukhokelela kwikamva elizukileyo loluntu oluthobelayo. UYehova uye ngobubele wasebenzisa isiprofeto sikaIsaya ukusikhanyisela ngoko aceba ukukwenzela abo bamthandayo. Enyanisweni, sinesizathu esihle sokunikela ingqalelo kumazwi kaYehova athi: “[Vuyani] ngonaphakade koko ndikudalayo”!—Isaya 65:18.
[Imibhalo esemazantsi]
a Abaninzi bacinga ukuba aba boni babesemangcwabeni bezama ukuqhagamshelana nabafileyo. Ukutya kwabo inyama yehagu kusenokuba kwakunento yokwenza nonqulo-zithixo.
b Egqabaza ngale ndinyana, umguquleli weBhayibhile uJerome (owazalwa ngenkulungwane yesine yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo) uchaza isithethe samandulo sabanquli-zithixo esasisenziwa ngosuku lokugqibela lwenyanga yokugqibela yonyaka wabo. Wabhala wathi: “Babebeka itafile ezele ziintlobo ngeentlobo zokutya nendebe yewayini enencasa ngenjongo yokuthamsanqelisa indyebo yonyaka ophelileyo okanye ozayo.”
c Ngokutsho kukaIsaya 65:16 kwinguqulelo yesiHebhere yamaMasorete, uYehova uchazwa ‘njengoThixo ka-Amen.’ Igama elithi “Amen” lithetha ukuthi “makube njalo,” okanye “ngokuqinisekileyo,” yaye lisisiqinisekiso sokuba into iyinyaniso okanye iza kuzaliseka ngokuqinisekileyo. Ngokuziphumeza kwakhe zonke izithembiso zakhe, uYehova ubonisa ukuba uthetha inyaniso.
d IThe Jerusalem Bible imguqulela uIsaya 65:20 ngokuthi: “Alusayi kubakho usana oluphila iintsuku ezimbalwa kuphela, nendoda endala engaziphili zonke iintsuku zobomi bayo.”
e Imithi ingumzekeliso ofanelekileyo wobomi obude, kuba iyenye yezona zinto ziphila ithuba elide. Ngokomzekelo, umthi womnquma uvelisa iziqhamo kangangamakhulu eminyaka yaye usenokuphila iminyaka eliwaka.
[Imibuzo YeSifundo]
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 389]
Kwihlabathi elitsha likaThixo, siza kuba nexesha elaneleyo lokunandipha umsebenzi wezandla zethu