1, 2. Isintu silahlekelwa yiziphi izinto namuhla, futhi lokhu kusithinta kanjani?

 UMNTWANA ulahlekelwa ithoyizi alithandayo noma liphuke, bese ekhala kakhulu. Isililo sakhe siyadabukisa! Wake wayibona indlela ubuso bomntwana obugcwala ngayo injabulo lapho umzali embuyisela obekulahlekile? Kungase kube ubala nje kumzali ukuthola lelo thoyizi noma ukulikhanda. Kodwa umntwana uyamomotheka, amangale. Obekubonakala kulahleke unomphela sekubuyisiwe!

² UJehova, uMzali obedlula bonke, unamandla okubuyisa lokho izingane zakhe zasemhlabeni ezingakubheka njengosekulahleke unomphela. Asikhulumi-ke kodwa ngamathoyizi. Kulezi “zikhathi ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo,” silahlekelwa izinto ezibaluleke kakhulu kunamathoyizi. (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Okuningi kwalokho okuyigugu kubantu kubonakala kusengozini njalo​—umuzi, izimpahla, umsebenzi, ngisho nempilo. Singase sidumale futhi uma sicabanga ngokoniwa kwendawo esikuyo nomphumela wako, onjengokushabalala kwezinhlobo eziningi zezinto eziphilayo. Kodwa akukho okusiqeda amandla njengokushonelwa umuntu esimthandayo. Umuzwa wokulahlekelwa nokungabi namandla ungasehlula.​—2 Samuweli 18:33.

3. Yiliphi ithemba eliduduzayo elichazwe encwadini yezEnzo 3:21, futhi uJehova uyoligcwalisa kanjani?

³ Yeka indlela okududuza ngayo-ke ukwazi ngamandla kaJehova okubuyisela! Njengoba sizobona, ziningi ngendlela emangalisayo izinto uNkulunkulu angazibuyisela nazozibuyisela ezinganeni zakhe zasemhlabeni. Eqinisweni, iBhayibheli lithi injongo kaJehova ‘iwukwenza zonke izinto zibe zintsha.’ (IzEnzo 3:21) Ukuze afeze lokho, uJehova uyosebenzisa uMbuso ophethwe iNdodana yakhe enguMesiya, uJesu Kristu. Ubufakazi  bubonisa ukuthi lo Mbuso waqala ukubusa ezulwini ngo-1914. a (Mathewu 24:3-14) Yiziphi izinto eziyobuyiselwa? Ake sifunde ngezinye zezenzo ezinhle zikaJehova zokubuyisela. Esinye sazo siyasibona kakade futhi siyingxenye yaso. Ezinye ziyokwenzeka ngezinga elikhulu esikhathini esizayo.

4, 5. Kwenzekani kubantu bakaNkulunkulu ngo-607 B.C.E., futhi yiliphi ithemba uJehova abanika lona?

⁴ Into eyodwa uJehova aseyibuyisele kakade ukukhulekela okumsulwa. Ukuze sikuqonde lokhu, ake sithi ukubhekabheka umlando wombuso wakwaJuda. Ukwenza kanjalo kuzosenza siyiqonde kahle indlela uJehova abewasebenzisa ngayo amandla akhe okubuyisela.​—Roma 15:4.

⁵ Cabanga nje ukuthi amaJuda athembekile azizwa kanjani ngo-607 B.C.E. ngenkathi kubhujiswa iJerusalema. Idolobha lawo alithandayo lacekelwa phansi, izindonga zalo zadilizwa. Okubi nakakhulu ukuthi ithempeli elikhazimulayo elalakhiwe uSolomoni, okwakuwukuphela kwendawo yokukhulekelwa okumsulwa kukaJehova emhlabeni wonke, lasala lingamanxiwa. (IHubo 79:1) Abasinda bathunjelwa eBhabhiloni, bashiya izwe labo liyincithakalo egcwele izilwane zasendle. (Jeremiya 9:11) Ngokubheka komuntu, kwakubonakala kuphele konke. (IHubo 137:1) Kodwa uJehova, owayekubikezele kudala lokhu kubhujiswa, wanikeza ithemba lokuthi isikhathi sokuvuselela sasiseza.

6-8. (a) Yisiphi isihloko esivela njalo emibhalweni yabaprofethi abangamaHebheru, futhi zagcwaliseka kanjani okokuqala lezo ziprofetho? (b) Ezikhathini zanamuhla, zigcwaliseke kanjani kubantu bakaNkulunkulu iziprofetho zokubuyisela?

⁶ Eqinisweni, ukuvuselela kwakuyisihloko esasivela njalo emibhalweni  yabaprofethi abangamaHebheru. b Ngalaba baprofethi, uJehova wabathembisa izwe elibuyiselwe nelinabantu, elinothile, elivikelekile ezilwaneni zasendle nasekuhlaselweni yizitha. Wachaza izwe labo elibuyiselwe njengeliyipharadesi uqobo lwalo! (Isaya 65:25; Hezekeli 34:25; 36:35) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukukhulekela okumsulwa kwakuzobuyiselwa, nethempeli lakhiwe kabusha. (Mika 4:1-5) Lezi ziprofetho zawanikeza ithemba amaJuda ayethunjiwe, zawasiza akwazi ukukhuthazelela iminyaka engu-70 ethunjelwe eBhabhiloni.

⁷ Ekugcineni, safika isikhathi sokubuyisela. Esekhululiwe eBhabhiloni, amaJuda aphindela eJerusalema akha kabusha ithempeli likaJehova. (Ezra 1:1, 2) Uma nje ayesanamathele ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa, uJehova wayewabusisa, enze nezwe lawo livunde futhi lichume. Wawavikela ezitheni nasezilwaneni zasendle ezase zinamashumi eminyaka zigcwele ezweni lawo. Yeka indlela okumele ukuba awajabulela ngayo amandla kaJehova okubuyisela! Kodwa lezo zenzakalo zaziwukugcwaliseka kokuqala nokulinganiselwe kweziprofetho zokubuyisela. Ukugcwaliseka okukhulu kwakuzokwenzeka “engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku,” esikhathini sethu, ngesikhathi kubekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi iNdlalifa yeNkosi uDavide eyayisinesikhathi eside yathenjiswa.​—Isaya 2:2-4, mbhw.; 9:6, 7.

⁸ Lapho uJesu eqeda kubekwa nje esihlalweni sobukhosi eMbusweni wasezulwini ngo-1914, wasiza abantu bakaNkulunkulu abathembekile emhlabeni bamkhonza ngendlela efanele. Njengoba nje umnqobi wasePheresiya uKoresi akhulula abasele abangamaJuda eBhabhiloni ngo-537 B.C.E., noJesu wakhulula abasele abangamaJuda angokomoya​—abalandeli bezinyathelo zakhe—​ethonyeni ‘leBhabhiloni Elikhulu,’ umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. (IsAmbulo 18:1-5; Roma 2:29) Kusukela ngo-1919 kuqhubeke, ukukhulekela okumsulwa kuye kwabuyiselwa endaweni yako efanele ekuphileni kwamaKristu angempela. (Malaki 3:1-5) Kusukela lapho, abantu bakaJehova bebelokhu bemkhulekela ethempelini lakhe elingokomoya ​—eliyilungiselelo likaNkulunkulu lokukhulekela okumsulwa. Kungani kubalulekile lokhu kithi namuhla?

9. Ngemva kwenkathi yabaphostoli, amasonto eLobukholwa enzani ngokukhulekelwa kukaNkulunkulu, kodwa yini uJehova ayenzile osukwini lwethu?

⁹ Cabanga ngalo mlando. AmaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayethola izibusiso eziningi ezingokomoya. Kodwa uJesu nabaphostoli babikezela ukuthi ukukhulekela kweqiniso kwakuzokonakaliswa futhi kuphele. (Mathewu 13:24-30; IzEnzo 20:29, 30) Ngemva kwenkathi yabaphostoli, kwavela eLobukholwa. Abefundisi balo bamukela izimfundiso nemikhuba yabantu abangamkhonzi uNkulunkulu. Bakwenza kwaba nzima nokuya kuNkulunkulu, bemchaza ngokuthi unguZiqu-zintathu ongaqondakali, bafundisa nabantu ukuba bavume izono kubapristi, bathandaze kuMariya nakwabanye “osanta” esikhundleni sikaJehova. Manje-ke, ngemva kweminyaka eminingi yokonakaliswa okunjalo, yini uJehova ayenzile? Kulo leli zwe lanamuhla​—izwe eligcwele amanga enkolo nelingcoliswe imikhuba ebonisa ukungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu—​uye wangenela wabuyisela ukukhulekela okumsulwa! Asenzi ihaba uma sithi lokhu kubuyisela kuyisenzakalo esibaluleke kunazo zonke ezikhathini zanamuhla.

10, 11. (a) Yiziphi izici ezimbili ezihilelekile epharadesi elingokomoya, futhi zikuthinta kanjani wena? (b) Hlobo luni lwabantu uJehova aluqoqele epharadesi elingokomoya, futhi bayoba nelungelo lokubonani?

¹⁰ Ngenxa yalokho, amaKristu eqiniso namuhla ajabulela ipharadesi elingokomoya eliqhubeka lithuthuka. Lihilelani leli pharadesi? Lihilela izici ezimbili ngokuyinhloko. Esokuqala siwukukhulekelwa okumsulwa kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova. Usibusise ngendlela yokukhulekela engenawo amanga nengasontekile. Usibusise ngokudla okungokomoya. Lokhu kusenza sikwazi ukufunda ngoBaba wethu wasezulwini, sikwazi ukumthokozisa, nokusondela kuye. (Johane 4:24) Isici sesibili sepharadesi elingokomoya sihilela abantu. Njengoba u-Isaya abikezela, “engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku,” uJehova uye wafundisa  abantu abamkhulekelayo izindlela zokuthula. Uye wakuqeda nya ukulwa phakathi kwethu. Naphezu kokuba nesono, uyasisiza sigqoke “ubuntu obusha.” Imizamo yethu uyibusisa ngomoya wakhe ongcwele oveza izithelo ezinhle kithi. (Efesu 4:22-24; Galathiya 5:22, 23) Uma wena wenza ngokuvumelana nomoya kaNkulunkulu, ngempela uyingxenye yepharadesi elingokomoya.

¹¹ Kuleli pharadesi elingokomoya, uJehova uqoqele uhlobo lwabantu aluthandayo​—abantu abamthandayo, abathanda ukuthula, ‘nabaqaphelayo ukuthi bayamdinga uNkulunkulu.’ (Mathewu 5:3) Labo bantu yibona abayoba nelungelo lokuzibonela ngawabo ukubuyisela okuhle nakakhulu​—ukubuyiselwa kwesintu nokomhlaba wonke.

12, 13. (a) Kungani kusamele zigcwaliseke futhi iziprofetho zokubuyisela? (b) Iyini injongo kaJehova ngomhlaba njengoba yashiwo e-Edene, futhi kungani isinikeza ithemba ngekusasa?

¹² Iziprofetho eziningi zokubuyisela zibhekisela kokungaphezu nje kokubuyisela okungokomoya. Ngokwesibonelo, u-Isaya wabhala ngesikhathi okuyokwelashwa ngaso abagulayo, abakhubazekile, izimpumputhe, nezithulu, lapho ngisho nokufa uqobo kuyogwinywa kuze kube phakade. (Isaya 25:8; 35:1-7) Lezo zithembiso azizange zigcwaliseke ngokoqobo ku-Israyeli wasendulo. Nakuba sikubonile ukugcwaliseka okungokomoya kwalezi zithembiso osukwini lwethu, sinesizathu esizwakalayo sokukholwa ukuthi esikhathini esizayo ziyogcwaliseka ngokoqobo nangokuphelele. Sikwazi kanjani lokho?

¹³ Ensimini yase-Edene uJehova wayicacisa injongo yakhe ngomhlaba: Kwakumele kuhlale kuwo abantu abajabulayo, abanempilo, nabanobunye. Indoda nowesifazane kwakumele banakekele umhlaba nazo zonke izilwane, bawuguqule ube ipharadesi. (Genesise 1:28) Lokho kuhluke kakhulu kulokho izinto eziyiko manje. Kodwa qiniseka ukuthi izinjongo zikaJehova azibhuntshi nanini. (Isaya 55:10, 11) UJesu, njengeNkosi enguMesiya emiswe uJehova, uyena oyoletha leli Pharadesi emhlabeni wonke.​—Luka 23:43.

14, 15. (a) UJehova uyokwenza kanjani “konke kube kusha”? (b) Kuyoba njani ukuphila ePharadesi, futhi yini wena olangazelela ukuyenza?

 ¹⁴ Cabanga nje ubona wonke umhlaba usuguquliwe usuyiPharadesi! Ngokuphathelene naleso sikhathi, uJehova uthi: “Bheka! Ngenza konke kube kusha.” (IsAmbulo 21:5) Cabanga ukuthi kuyosho ukuthini lokho. Lapho uJehova eseqedile ukusebenzisa amandla akhe abhubhisayo kulesi simiso esidala esonakele, kuyosala “amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha.” Lokhu kusho ukuthi uhulumeni omusha ezulwini uyobusa umphakathi omusha wasemhlabeni owakhiwa yilabo abathanda uJehova nabenza intando yakhe. (2 Petru 3:13) USathane namademoni akhe bayophelelwa umsebenzi. (IsAmbulo 20:3) Kuyobe kuqala ngqa ngemva kwezinkulungwane zeminyaka ukuba isintu sikhululeke ethonyeni elonakalisayo, elinenzondo, nelilimazayo. Impela, liyobe liphume nobovu.

¹⁵ Ekugcineni siyokwazi ukunakekela lo mhlaba wethu omuhle ngendlela esasidalelwe ukuba siwunakekele ngayo ekuqaleni. Umhlaba unamandla emvelo okuzivuselela. Amachibi nemifula engcolile ingazihlanza ngokwayo uma kuqedwa imbangela yokungcola; izindawo ezicekelwe phansi yizimpi zingashintsha uma kungaphela izimpi. Yeka ukuthi kuyoba mnandi kanjani ukubambisana nomhlaba, sisize ekuwuguquleni ube ipaki elinjengengadi, i-Edene elisemhlabeni wonke elinezinto ezinhlobonhlobo! Kunokuba umuntu aqothule izilwane nezitshalo ngokunganaki, uyoba nokuthula nayo yonke indalo esemhlabeni. Ngisho nabantwana ngeke bazesabe izilwane zasendle.​—Isaya 9:6, 7; 11:1-9.

16. EPharadesi, yikuphi ukuvuselela okuyothinta umuntu ngamunye othembekile?

¹⁶ Kwathina ngokwethu siyovuselelwa. Ngemva kwe-Armagedoni, abasindile bayobona abantu belashwa ngokuyisimangaliso emhlabeni wonke. Njengoba enza ngenkathi elapha emhlabeni, uJesu uyosebenzisa amandla akhe awanikwe uNkulunkulu enze izimpumputhe zibone, izithulu zizwe, abakhubazekile nababuthaka baphile saka. (Mathewu 15:30) Asebekhulile bayothokoza lapho bebuyiselwa amandla obusha, impilo, nobungqabavu. (Jobe 33:25) Imibimbi iyophela, izitho zomzimba zeluleke,  imisipha ikhululeke ngenxa yamandla amasha. Sonke isintu esithembekile siyozwa imiphumela yesono iya iphela kancane kancane, ishabalala. Asive siyombonga uJehova uNkulunkulu ngamandla akhe amangalisayo okuvuselela! Manje ake sigxile esicini esisodwa esithinta inhliziyo ngokukhethekile salesi sikhathi sokubuyisela.

17, 18. (a) UJesu wabasolelani abaSadusi? (b) Yiziphi izimo ezenza u-Eliya wacela uJehova ukuba avuse umuntu?

¹⁷ Ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., abaholi benkolo abathile okwakuthiwa abaSadusi, babengakholelwa ovukweni. UJesu wabasola ngala mazwi: “Niyaphazama, ngoba aniyazi imiBhalo namandla kaNkulunkulu.” (Mathewu 22:29) Yebo, imiBhalo yembula ukuthi uJehova unawo amandla anjalo okubuyisela ukuphila kwasebashona. Ikwembula kanjani?

¹⁸ Kubone ngeso lengqondo okwenzeka ngosuku luka-Eliya. Umfelokazi wayegone umntanakhe owayeseshonile okwakuwukuphela kwakhe. Kumele ukuba washaqeka umprofethi u-Eliya, owayeyisivakashi salo mfelokazi isikhathi esithile. Ngaphambi kwalokho, u-Eliya wayesize ekusindiseni le ngane endlaleni. Kungenzeka ukuthi u-Eliya wayesekuthanda lokhu okuwumfanyana. Unina yena wayefelwe izwe. Lo mfana wayewukuphela kwento eyayimkhumbuza umyeni wakhe owayeseshonile. Kungenzeka ukuthi wayenethemba lokuthi indodana yakhe iyomnakekela lapho esekhulile. Lo mfelokazi wayephithene ikhanda, enovalo lokuthi ujeziselwa iphutha elithile ayelenzile. U-Eliya wehluleka ukubuka lesi simo esibuhlungu siqhubeka. Wasithatha ngokucophelela isidumbu esifubeni somfelokazi, waya naso egunjini lakhe, wacela uJehova uNkulunkulu ukuba abuyisele ukuphila enganeni.​—1 AmaKhosi 17:8-21.

19, 20. (a) U-Abrahama wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayenokholo emandleni kaJehova okuvusa umuntu, futhi lwalusekelwephi lolo kholo? (b) UJehova waluvuza kanjani ukholo luka-Eliya?

¹⁹ U-Eliya wayengeyena umuntu wokuqala owayekholelwa ovukweni. Emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili, u-Abrahama wayekholelwa ukuthi uJehova unawo amandla anjalo  okubuyisela ukuphila kumuntu​—futhi wayenesizathu esihle sokukukholwa. Ngesikhathi u-Abrahama eneminyaka eyikhulu uSara enengu-90, uJehova wavuselela amandla abo okuzala, wenza uSara wakwazi ukuthola indodana ngokuyisimangaliso. (Genesise 17:17; 21:2, 3) Kamuva, lapho umfana esekhulile impela, uJehova wacela u-Abrahama ukuba anikele ngale ndodana yakhe. U-Abrahama wabonisa ukholo, ethi uJehova angamvusa u-Isaka wakhe amthandayo. (Hebheru 11:17-19) Kungenzeka ukuthi yilolu kholo oluqine kanje olwenza ukuba u-Abrahama, ngaphambi kokuba akhuphukele entabeni ayonikela ngendodana yakhe, aqinisekise izinceku zakhe ukuthi yena no-Isaka babezobuya.​—Genesise 22:5.

²⁰ UJehova wathi u-Isaka akangabulawa, ngakho aludingekanga uvuko ngaleso sikhathi. Kodwa endabeni ka-Eliya, indodana yomfelokazi yayisishonile​—kodwa kwakungakapheli isikhathi eside ishonile. UJehova wavuza ukholo lwalo mprofethi ngokuyivusa ingane! U-Eliya wabe esemletha kunina umfana, washo la mazwi angeke alibaleke: “Bheka, indodana yakho iyaphila”!​—1 AmaKhosi 17:22-24.

21, 22. (a) Yayiyini injongo yokuvuswa kwabantu okukhulunywa ngakho emiBhalweni? (b) Luyoba lukhulu kangakanani uvuko ePharadesi, futhi ubani oyovusa abantu?

²¹ Ngakho, ngokokuqala ngqa emlandweni weBhayibheli sibona uJehova esebenzisa amandla akhe ebuyisela ukuphila komuntu. Kamuva, uJehova wanikeza u-Elisha, uJesu, uPawulu, noPetru amandla okubuyisela abashonile ekuphileni. Yebo, labo abavuswa babuye bafa. Noma kunjalo, izindaba ezinjalo eziseBhayibhelini zisinikeza amazwibela amahle ezinto eziseza.

²² EPharadesi, uJesu uyogcwalisa indima yakhe yokuba “ukuvuka nokuphila.” (Johane 11:25) Uyovusa izigidi ezingenakubalwa, azinike ithuba lokuphila phakade ePharadesi emhlabeni. (Johane 5:28, 29) Cabanga ukuthi abangani nezihlobo ezithandanayo ziyojabula kakhulu kangakanani lapho ziphinda zihlangana futhi zangana ngemva kwesikhathi eside zihlukaniswe ukufa! Sonke isintu siyodumisa uJehova ngamandla akhe okubuyisela.

23. Yisiphi isenzo esikhulu kunazo zonke uJehova abonisa ngaso amandla, futhi siliqinisekisa kanjani ithemba lethu ngekusasa?

 ²³ UJehova wenze okuthile okusenza siqiniseke ngokuthi la mathemba angokoqobo. Amandla akhe amakhulu wawabonisa ngesenzo esikhulu kunazo zonke, esiwukuvusa iNdodana yakhe, uJesu, eyisidalwa somoya esinamandla, wayenza yaba eyesibili ngobukhulu ngemva kwakhe. Amakhulu abantu azibonela uJesu ovusiwe. (1 Korinte 15:5, 6) Lobu bufakazi kufanele bubanelise ngisho nabantu abangabazayo. UJehova unamandla okubuyisela ukuphila.

24. Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyobavusa asebashona, futhi yiliphi ithemba ngamunye wethu okufanele alazise?

²⁴ UJehova akagcini nje ngokuba namandla okubuyisela asebashona ekuphileni, kodwa futhi uyafisa ukwenza kanjalo. Indoda ethembekile uJobe yaphefumulelwa ukuba ithi uJehova empeleni uyakulangazelela ukubuyisa asebashona. (Jobe 14:15) Awudonseleki yini kuNkulunkulu wethu, ozimisele ukusebenzisa amandla akhe okubuyisela ngendlela enothando kanje? Kodwa khumbula ukuthi uvuko lumane nje luyisici esisodwa somsebenzi kaJehova omkhulu wokubuyisela asazowenza. Njengoba usondela kuye, lazise ngaso sonke isikhathi ithemba lokuthi ungaba lapho uzibonele uJehova “enza konke kube kusha.”​—IsAmbulo 21:5.