1. Chaza into ebisenziwa ngoonogada bakaYehova abangabaprofeti, nezinto eziye zenzeka emva koko.

UNOGADA umi phezu kweendonga zeYerusalem, ubeke isandla ebunzi ukuze angaphandlwa lilanga njengoko lisiya ekutshoneni. Ujonge kude phayaa, aze avuthele ixilongo lakhe, elumkisa abantu ngomkhosi wamaBhabhiloni ozayo! Kodwa akusekho nto banokuyenza aba bantu bangahoyanga nto. Sekuyiminyaka uYehova ethumela oonogada, okanye abaprofeti, ukuba babalumkise ngokuza kwale mini, kodwa bengafuni ukumamela. Ngoku isixeko sabo sirhangqwe ngumkhosi wamaBhabhiloni. Emva kweenyanga, lo mkhosi uqhekeza iindonga zesixeko, utshabalalise itempile, uze ubabulale abo bantu baseYerusalem bangathembekanga nabakhonza izithixo, abanye ubathimbe.

2, 3. (a) Yintoni eza kwenzeka kubantu behlabathi abangathembekanga namhlanje? (b) Yeyiphi imibuzo esiza kuthetha ngayo?

² Namhlanje, umkhosi kaYehova wasezulwini uyamatsha usiza kutshabalalisa abantu abangathembekanga beli hlabathi. (ISityhi. 17:12-14) Xa ubahlasela, iza kube ikukuqala kwexesha lentlungu engathethekiyo engazange yabakho. (Mat. 24:21) Kodwa lisekho ixesha lokuba abaninzi baguquke baze bathobele  isilumkiso esivela kubantu bakaYehova abenza umsebenzi kanogada.

³ Yintoni eyenze uYehova wabeka oonogada? Yintoni aba nogada abalumkisa ngayo? Bangoobani, ibe thina singena phi? Makhe sithethe ngale mibuzo.

4. Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova athumele oonogada? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

⁴ Funda uHezekile 33:7. Oonogada bakudala babedla ngokuhlala phezu kweendonga zesixeko, ukuze bakhusele abantu ababehlala kuso. Loo nto yayibubungqina bokuba umlawuli wesixeko wayebakhathalele abantu bakhe. Nangona ixilongo lalinokubothusa abantu abaleleyo, lalinokubasindisa abo bathobelayo. Ngokufanayo, uYehova wathumela oonogada, hayi kuba efuna ukuboyikisa abantu bakhe ngokuthi baza kutshabalala, kodwa kuba ebathanda kwaye efuna basinde.

5, 6. Sibubona njani ubulungisa bukaYehova?

⁵ Xa uYehova wabeka uHezekile waba ngunogada, wabonisa ezinye iimpawu zakhe ezisenza simthembe. Makhe sithethe ngezimbini zazo.

⁶ Ubulungisa: Ubulungisa bukaYehova sibubona ngokuthi angasibophi ngebhanti elinye sonke. Ngokomzekelo, nangona amaSirayeli amaninzi asiva kodwa akasihoya isiprofeto sikaHezekile, uYehova akazange awagwebe onke; kunoko wajonga into eyenziwa ngumntu ngamnye emva kokuba esivile eso siprofeto. Wasebenzisa kakhulu igama elithi “umenzi-bubi” nelithi “umntu olilungisa.” Loo nto ibonisa ukuba uYehova wayegweba umntu ngamnye ngokwento ayenzayo emva kokuba esivile isiprofeto.​—Hez. 33:8, 18-20.

7. UYehova ubagweba njani abantu?

⁷ UYehova simbona ukuba unobulungisa nangendlela abagweba ngayo abantu. Akabagwebi ngezinto abazenze kwixesha eligqithileyo, kodwa ubagweba ngendlela abasithobela ngayo ngoku isilumkiso. Wathi kuHezekile: “Xa ndisithi kumenzi-bubi: ‘Ngokuqinisekileyo uza kufa,’ aze aguquke esonweni sakhe, enze okusesikweni nobulungisa, . . . ngokuqinisekileyo uza kuhlala ephila.” Emva koko uYehova wathetha la mazwi abangel’ umdla: “Akukho nasinye kwizono azenzileyo aza kuphenduliswa ngaso.” (Hez. 33:14-16) Bona abantu ababengamalungisa, abanakulindela ukuba ukuthobela kwabo kwixesha eligqithileyo kubenza bathetheleleke xa bemjikela uYehova ngoku. Kaloku uYehova wathi, ukuba umntu “[uthembela] ngobulungisa bakhe, enze izinto ezimbi, akukho nasinye kwizenzo zakhe zobulungisa esiza kukhunjulwa, kodwa uza kufa ngenxa yobubi abenzileyo.”​—Hez. 33:13.

8. Iziprofeto zokulumkisa abantu zibonisa njani ukuba uYehova unobulungisa?

 ⁸ Enye into ebonisa ukuba uYehova unobulungisa kukuba uyalumkisa ngaphambi kokuba enze. UHezekile wawuqala umsebenzi wakhe malunga neminyaka emithandathu ngaphambi kokuba umkhosi wamaBhabhiloni utshabalalise iYerusalem. Kodwa wayengengowokuqala ukulumkisa abantu bakaThixo ukuba babeza kuphenduliswa. Ngaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem, uYehova wathumela umprofeti uHoseya, uIsaya, uMika, uOdedi noYeremiya ukuba benze umsebenzi woonogada. Wayalela uYeremiya ukuba akhumbuze amaSirayeli athi: “Ndabeka oonogada, abathi, ‘Mamelani isandi sophondo!’” (Yer. 6:17) Akukho mntu wayenokugxeka uYehova okanye abo nogada ngokufa kwamaSirayeli, ebulawa ngamaBhabhiloni.

9. UYehova wabonisa njani ukuba unothando?

⁹ Uthando: UYehova wabonisa ukuba unothando ngokuthumela oonogada bakhe ukuba balumkise amalungisa nabenzi-bubi, ababemkhathazile baza bangcolisa igama lakhe. Khawuyicinge le nto, amaSirayeli ayesaziwa njengabantu bakaYehova, kodwa ayemane emshiya ayokukhonza izithixo! UYehova wabonisa indlela eyayimkhathaza ngayo le nto ngokuwafanisa nomfazi okrexezayo. (Hez. 16:32) Kodwa zange akhawuleze awancame. Wayefuna abuyele kuye, wayengafuni kuziphindezela. Wawanika ithuba lokutshintsha ngaphambi kokuba awohlwaye. Ngoba? Wathi kuHezekile: “Akundivuyisi ukufa komenzi-bubi,  kodwa ndifuna atshintshe iindlela zakhe aze aqhubeke ephila.” (Hez. 33:11) UYehova usaziva ngaloo ndlela nanamhlanje.​—Mal. 3:6.

10, 11. Yintoni esiyifundayo kwindlela uYehova awabaphatha ngayo abantu bakhe?

¹⁰ Yintoni esiyifundayo kwindlela uYehova awabonisa ngayo ukuba unobulungisa kwaye uyawathanda amaSirayeli? Enye into esiyifundayo kukuba, asimele sicinge ukuba bayafana bonke abantu esishumayela kubo, kodwa simele sijonge iimeko zomntu ngamnye. Bekuya kuba yimpazamo ukuthi asinakushumayela kumntu othile ngenxa yendlela ebekade eziphethe ngayo, uhlanga lwakhe, ulwimi lwakhe, nangenxa yokuba esokola okanye esisityebi! UYehova wafundisa umpostile uPetros isifundo esisabalulekileyo nanamhlanje. Wathi: “UThixo akakhethi, kodwa kuzo zonke iintlanga wamkela nabani na omoyikayo nowenza izinto ezilungileyo.”​—IZe. 10:34, 35.

¹¹ Enye into ebalulekileyo esiyifundayo kukuba simele sihlale silumkile. Izinto ezilungileyo ebesikade sizenza, azibuthetheleli ububi esibenzayo ngoku. Simele sikhumbule ukuba nathi sinesono njengabantu esishumayela kubo. Ayasebenza nakuthi amazwi kampostile uPawulos awawathetha xa wayeluleka ibandla laseKorinte, esithi: “Umntu ocinga ukuba umile makalumke angawi. Zonke izilingo enizifumeneyo ziqhelekile ebantwini.” (1 Kor. 10:12, 13) Singaze ‘sithembele ngobulungisa bethu,’ sicinga ukuba asizukohlwaywa xa sisenza izinto ezimbi kuba sisenza nezintle.  (Hez. 33:13) Nokuba sinexesha elide kangakanani na sikhonza uYehova, kubalulekile ukuba sihlale sithobekile.

12. Ukuba sakha senza izono ezinzulu, yintoni esifanele siyikhumbule?

¹² Yintoni ke esinokuyenza ukuba sisazisola ngezono ezinzulu esakha sazenza? Amazwi kaHezekile asifundisa ukuba uYehova uza kubohlwaya abenzi-bubi abangaguqukiyo. Kodwa ke, sikwafunda nokuba uYehova unguThixo onothando, hayi oziphindezelelayo. (1 Yoh. 4:8) Ukuba izinto esizenzayo zibonisa ukuba siguqukile, asifanele sicinge ukuba uThixo akanakuzixolela izono zethu. (Yak. 5:14, 15) Wayekulungele ukuxolela amaSirayeli awayekhonza abanye oothixo, ibe ukulungele ukusixolela nathi.​—INdu. 86:5.

13, 14. (a) Yintoni ababemele bathethe ngayo oonogada? (b) Wathetha ngantoni uIsaya?

¹³ Funda uHezekile 33:2, 3. Yintoni ababemele bathethe ngayo oonogada bakaYehova? Ixesha elininzi babesoloko belumkisa. Kodwa babenazo neendaba ezimnandi. Nantsi imizekelo embalwa.

¹⁴ UIsaya, owaba ngunogada ukususela ngo-778 de kwaba malunga no-732 B.C.E., walumkisa wathi amaBhabhiloni ayeza kuyoyisa iYerusalem aze abathimbe abantu ababehlala kuyo. (Isa. 39:5-7) Kodwa waphinda wabhala wathi: “Mamela! Oonogada bakho baphakamisa amazwi abo. Bonke baqhubeka bekhwaza bevuya, kuba baza kubona kakuhle xa uYehova eqokelela iZiyon.” (Isa. 52:8) UIsaya waprofeta ngezona ndaba zimnandi, zokuba uYehova wayeza kuphinda akhonzwe ngendlela ayifunayo!

15. Wathetha ngantoni uYeremiya?

¹⁵ UYeremiya, owaba ngunogada ukususela ngo-647 ukuya ku-580 B.C.E., kudla ngokuthiwa “wasoloko ethetha ngentlekele,” kodwa asiyonyani leyo. Ewe kona, wawalumkisa amaSirayeli awayesenza izinto ezimbi, esithi uYehova wayeza kuwohlwaya. * Kodwa wathetha nangeendaba ezimnandi, eprofeta ngokubuyela kwabantu bakaThixo kwilizwe labo, baze baphinde bamkhonze ngendlela ayifunayo.​—Yer. 29:10-14; 33:10, 11.

16. UHezekile wabanceda njani abantu ababethinjiwe eBhabhiloni?

¹⁶ UHezekile wabekwa njengonogada ngo-613 B.C.E. de kwaba malunga no-591 B.C.E. Njengokuba iSahluko 5 no-6 sale ncwadi zibonisile, uHezekile waqhubeka ebalumkisa abantu bakwaSirayeli ukuba baza kutshabalala, ukuze angabi netyala legazi ngokufa kwabo. Akazange aphelele nje ngokulumkisa abo bantu baseYerusalem ababemjikele uYehova, kodwa wanceda nabo babethinjiwe eBhabhiloni ukuba bahlale bengabahlobo bakaYehova, ukuze balungele umsebenzi ababeza kuwenza kwixesha elizayo. Ekupheleni kweminyaka eyi-70 bethinjiwe, uYehova wayeza kubuyisela abaseleyo kubo kwilizwe labo lakwaSirayeli. (Hez. 36:7-11) Aba yayingabantwana nabazukulwana  bamaSirayeli awayewathobele amazwi kaHezekile. Njengokuba kubonisiwe kwezinye izahluko ezikwiCandelo 3 lale ncwadi, uHezekile wathetha nangeendaba ezimnandi ezininzi, ebaqinisekisa abantu ukuba uYehova wayeza kuphinda akhonzwe ngendlela ayifunayo eYerusalem.

17. UYehova wayebathumela nini oonogada?

¹⁷ Ngaba abaprofeti abalumkisa abantu bakaThixo ngokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem ngo-607 B.C.E. yayingabo kuphela abasetyenziswa nguYehova njengoonogada? Hayi. Ngaphambi kokuba kwenzeke nantoni na ebalulekileyo kwinjongo yakhe, uYehova wayethumela oonogada ukuba balumkise abenzi-bubi baze bachaze neendaba ezimnandi.

18. Wawuyintoni umsebenzi kaYohane umBhaptizi?

¹⁸ UYohane umBhaptizi naye wayesenza umsebenzi kanogada. Walumkisa amaYuda ukuba uThixo wayesele eza kuwalahla. (Mat. 3:1, 2, 9-11) Kodwa akazange aphelele apho. UYesu wathi uYohane ‘wayengumthunywa’ ekwakuprofetwe ngaye ukuba wayeza kulungiselela uMesiya indlela. (Mal. 3:1; Mat. 11:7-10) Wachaza iindaba ezimnandi esithi, “iMvana kaThixo,” uYesu, yayifikile ibe yayiza kususa “isono sehlabathi.”​—Yoh. 1:29, 30.

19, 20. UYesu nabafundi bakhe baba ngabo njani oonogada?

¹⁹ Kubo bonke oonogada abakhe bakho, uYesu wayengoyena mkhulu. NjengoHezekile, naye wathunywa ‘kwindlu kaSirayeli.’ (Hez. 3:17; Mat. 15:24) UYesu walumkisa amaYuda ukuba uThixo wayesele eza kuwalahla, ize neYerusalem itshatyalaliswe. (Mat. 23:37, 38; 24:1, 2; Luka 21:20-24) Kodwa eyona nto wayethetha ngayo yayiziindaba ezimnandi.​—Luka 4:17-21.

²⁰ Xa wayesemhlabeni, uYesu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Hlalani nithe qwa.” (Mat. 24:42) Bamthobela baza baba ngoonogada, bexelela amaYuda ukuba uYehova wayewalahlile, wona kunye nesixeko sawo saseYerusalem. (Roma 9:6-8; Gal. 4:25, 26) Njengoonogada ababengaphambi kwabo, nabo babeneendaba ezimnandi. Yayiziindaba ezimangalisayo zokuba abantu beeNtlanga babeza kuba yinxalenye yoSirayeli othanjisiweyo kaThixo, baze babe nenyhweba yokuncedisa uKristu ekwenzeni uYehova aphinde akhonzwe ngendlela ayifunayo apha emhlabeni.​—IZe. 15:14; Gal. 6:15, 16; ISityhi. 5:9, 10.

21. UPawulos waba ngumzekelo njani?

²¹ Koonogada bexesha labapostile, uPawulos wayengumzekelo omhle. Wayewuthanda umsebenzi wakhe. NjengoHezekile, wayesazi ukuba wayeza kuba netyala legazi ukuba wayengawenzi. (IZe. 20:26, 27) Njengabanye oonogada, uPawulos akazange alumkise nje kuphela, kodwa wayenazo neendaba ezimnandi. (IZe. 15:35; Roma 1:1-4) Umoya oyingcwele wamnceda wabhala amazwi kaIsaya athi: “Zintle nyhani ezintabeni iinyawo zalowo uzisa  iindaba ezilungileyo.” Wayethetha ngabalandeli bakaKristu ababeshumayela ngoBukumkani BukaThixo.​—Isa. 52:7, 8; Roma 10:13-15.

22. Kwenzeka ntoni emva kokufa kwabapostile?

²² Bathi bakufa abapostile, amaKristu amaninzi amjikela uYehova njengokuba kwakuprofetiwe. (IZe. 20:29, 30; 2 Tes. 2:3-8) Emva kwexesha elide, amaKristu obuxoki afana nokhula aba maninzi kunabalandeli bakaKristu, zaza iindaba ezingoBukumkani BukaThixo zagqunyelelwa ziimfundiso zobuxoki. (Mat. 13:36-43) Kodwa ke, xa kwafika ixesha lokuba uYehova angenelele, waphinda wabonisa ukuba unothando nobulungisa ngokuthi abeke oonogada ababeza kulumkisa baze bachaze neendaba ezimnandi. Babengoobani aba nogada?

23. Wawuyintoni umsebenzi ka-C. T. Russell nabahlobo bakhe?

²³ Kwiminyaka engaphambi nje kuka-1914, uCharles Taze Russell nabahlobo bakhe baba ‘ngabathunywa’ ababeza ‘kuvula indlela’ ngaphambi kokumiselwa koBukumkani BukaMesiya. * (Mal. 3:1) Babesenza umsebenzi kanogada, bencedwa yimagazini iZion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence ekulumkiseni abantu ngomgwebo kaThixo ozayo, nasekuchazeni iindaba ezimnandi ezingoBukumkani BukaThixo.

24. (a) Ikhoboka elithembekileyo liye laba ngunogada njani? (b) Ufunde ntoni kumzekelo woonogada bakudala? (Jonga ibhokisi ethi “Abanye Boonogada Abangumzekelo.”)

 ²⁴ Emva kokubekwa koBukumkani, uYesu wakhetha iqela elincinci lamadoda awaba likhoboka elithembekileyo. (Mat. 24:45-47) Ukususela ngoko, eli khoboka lithembekileyo, elaziwa ngokuba liQumrhu Elilawulayo, liye laba ngunogada. Liyakhokela ekulumkiseni ‘ngomhla wempindezelo,’ nasekuchazeni ixesha ‘lokwaneliseka kukaYehova.’​—Isa. 61:2; jonga neyesi-2 kwabaseKorinte 6:1, 2.

25, 26. (a) Yintoni uYesu awayalela bonke abalandeli bakhe ukuba bayenze, ibe yenziwa njani? (b) Siza kuthetha ngantoni kwisahluko esilandelayo?

²⁵ Ikhoboka elithembekileyo lilo elikhokelayo ekwenzeni umsebenzi kanogada, kodwa uYesu wayalela ‘bonke’ abalandeli bakhe ukuba ‘bahlale bethe qwa.’ (Marko 13:33-37) Lo myalelo siwuthobela ngokuthi sihlale sinokholo oluqinileyo, size simxhase ngokuthembeka unogada wale mihla. Sibonisa ukuba sithe qwa xa sikukhuthalela ukushumayela. (2 Tim. 4:2) Yintoni esiqhubayo? Ngumnqweno wethu wokusindisa abantu. (1 Tim. 4:16) Kungekudala, abantu abaninzi baza kutshabalala, ngenxa yokuba bengakhange basihoye isilumkiso sikanogada wale mihla. (Hez. 3:19) Kodwa eyona nto isiqhubayo, kukuba sifuna ukuchazela abantu ezona ndaba zimnandi, zokuba uYehova uphinde wakhonzwa ngendlela ayifunayo! Kanye ngoku, ngeli xesha ‘lokwaneliseka kukaYehova,’ abantu abaninzi basenethuba lokukhonza kunye nathi uThixo onothando nobulungisa, uYehova. Kungekudala, bonke abantu abaza kusinda xa kupheliswa eli hlabathi likhohlakeleyo, baza kufumana iintsikelelo zolawulo loNyana wakhe, uYesu Kristu. Yintoni ke ebinokusenza singafuni ukuncedisa unogada wanamhlanje ekushumayeleni iindaba ezilungileyo?​—Mat. 24:14.

²⁶ Nangona lingekapheliswa eli hlabathi, uYehova sele ebamanyanisile abantu bakhe ngendlela engummangaliso. Isahluko esilandelayo siza kuthetha ngeentonga ezimbini, ezibonisa indlela eyenzeke ngayo loo nto.