1-3. AbaseBhabhiloni babebadelela kanjani abantu bakaJehova, futhi kungani?

AWUZICABANGE ungumJuda othembekile uhlala edolobheni laseBhabhiloni. Sekuphele iminyaka engaba ngu-50 abantu bakini bedingisiwe. YiSabatha, futhi uzohamba uyohlangana nabanye niyokhonza uJehova njengoba nihlale nenza. Njengoba uhamba emigwaqweni ephithizelayo, udlula amathempeli amakhulu nezindawo eziningi okukhonzwa kuzo onkulunkulu bamanga. Abantu batheleka kulezi zindawo ngobuningi bezokwenza iminikelo futhi bacule amaculo okudumisa onkulunkulu abafana noMarduk.

² Ekugcineni, uyafika kulaba abambalwa ozokhonza nabo uJehova, kude nalesiya siphithiphithi. * Nithola indawo ethulile ukuze nithandaze, nicule amaculo, nicabange nangeZwi likaNkulunkulu ndawonye, mhlawumbe ningakweminye yemifudlana yaleli dolobha. Njengoba nithandaza ndawonye, nizwa imisinjwana esholo phansi njengoba izikebhe ezakhiwe ngezingodo, ezifaselwe osebeni zilokhu zinyakaza. Niyajabula ngokuthi kuthulekile kule ndawo. Nethemba ukuthi abekho abazoza bezoniphazamisa njengoba bevame ukwenza. Basuke bekwenzelani lokho?

 ³ IBhabhiloni selinqobe izimpi eziningi, futhi abantu bakhona bakholelwa ukuthi amandla bawathola konkulunkulu babo bamanga. Bathi ukunqotshwa kweJerusalema kuwubufakazi bokuthi uNkulunkulu wabo uMarduk unamandla kunoJehova! Ngakho benza ihlaya ngoNkulunkulu wenu nabantu bakhe. Ngezinye izikhathi baye banichwense bathi: “Siculeleni enye yezingoma zaseZiyoni.” (IHu. 137:3) Amahubo amaningi asuke ehalalisa ngokunqoba kweZiyoni izitha zikaJehova. Kungenzeka ukuthi yilawo maculo abaseBhabhiloni abathanda ukuhlekisa ngawo. Kodwa amanye amahubo akhuluma ngabo abaseBhabhiloni. Ngokwesibonelo, elinye lithi: ‘IJerusalema balenze laba yinqwaba yamatshe. Labo abasizungezile basenza inhlekisa, bayasiklolodela.’—IHu. 79:1, 3, 4.

4, 5. Isiprofetho sikaHezekeli sasiletha liphi ithemba, futhi yini esizoxoxa ngayo kulesi sahluko? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

⁴ Kukhona namaJuda ayizihlubuki athanda ukuhlekisa ngokuthi unokholo kuJehova nakubaprofethi bakhe. Nakuba bekuchwensa, ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela emsulwa kuyakududuza wena nomndeni wakho. Kumnandi ukuthandaza nokucula ndawonye. Ukufunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu kuyakwelapha. (IHu. 94:19; Roma 15:4) Ngalolo suku njengoba nihlangene, omunye kini ufika nento ekhethekile—umqulu onesiprofetho sikaHezekeli. Uyathanda ukuzwa isithembiso sikaJehova sokuthi ngelinye ilanga uyobuyisela abantu bakhe ezweni labo. Inhliziyo yakho iyagxumagxuma njengoba lesi siprofetho sifundwa, futhi ucabanga ngokuthi ngelinye ilanga wena nomndeni wakho niyobuyela ezweni lakini futhi nibe nesandla ekubuyiselweni kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu!

⁵ Isiprofetho sikaHezekeli sinezithembiso eziningi eziphathelene nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu. Ake sizihlole lezo zithembiso ezinikeza ithemba. Lezo zithembiso zagcwaliseka kanjani kulabo ababedingisiwe? Zisho ukuthini lezo ziprofetho esikhathini sethu? Sizofunda nangeziprofetho ezisazophinde zigcwaliseke okokugcina esikhathini esizayo.

6. UNkulunkulu wayebaxwayise kanjani ngokuphindaphindiwe abantu bakhe abavukelayo?

⁶ UJehova, esebenzisa uHezekeli, wabatshela ngokucacile abantu bakhe ukuthi wayezobajezisa kanjani ngenxa yokuvukela kwabo. UJehova wathi: “Bayoya ekudingisweni, ekuthunjweni.” (Hez. 12:11) Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 6 sale ncwadi, uHezekeli wabonisa ngokoqobo ukuthi lezo zahlulelo zazizokwenzeka kanjani. Kodwa wayengeyena owokuqala owaxwayisa ama-Israyeli. Kusukela ngesikhathi sikaMose, cishe eminyakeni eyinkulungwane ngaphambili, uJehova wayexwayise abantu bakhe ngokuthi uma beqhubeka bevukela, babeyodingiswa. (Dut. 28:36, 37) Abaprofethi abanjengo-Isaya noJeremiya nabo babekhiphe izixwayiso ezifanayo.—Isaya 39:5-7; Jer. 20:3-6.

7. UJehova wabajezisa kanjani abantu bakhe?

⁷ Nokho, kuyadabukisa ukuthi iningi labantu alizange lizinake lezo zixwayiso. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwamzwisa ubuhlungu  uJehova ukuhlubuka kwabantu bakhe, ukukhonza kwabo izithombe, ukungathembeki nokonakala kwabo bethonywe abelusi ababi. Ngenxa yalokho, wabayeka babulawa indlala—okwakuyinto ebuhlungu nephathisa amahloni ngenxa yokuthi izwe labo lalikade liyizwe “eligeleza ubisi noju.” (Hez. 20:6, 7) Ngemva kwalokho, njengoba ayebikezele kudala, uJehova wabayeka abantu bakhe badingiswa. Ekugcineni, ngo-607 B.C.E., uNebukhadinezari waseBhabhiloni walibhubhisa iJerusalema nethempeli lalo. Izinkulungwane zamaJuda ayesindile zathathwa zadingiselwa eBhabhiloni. Zafika lapho zenziwa inhlekisa zaphikiswa, njengoba kuchazwe ekuqaleni kwalesi sahluko.

8, 9. UNkulunkulu walixwayisa kanjani ibandla lobuKristu mayelana nezihlubuki?

⁸ Kukhona yini okwehlela ibandla lobuKristu okufana nokudingiselwa kwamaJuda eBhabhiloni? Yebo! NjengamaJuda asendulo, abalandeli bakaKristu nabo baxwayiswa kusenesikhathi. Esanda kuqala inkonzo yakhe, uJesu wathi: “Qaphelani abaprofethi bamanga abeza kini bembethe isikhumba semvu, kodwa ngaphakathi beyizimpisi ezihahayo.” (Math. 7:15) Eminyakeni eminingi ngemva kwalokho, umphostoli uPawulu waphefumulelwa ukuba asho isixwayiso esifanayo: “Ngiyazi ukuthi ngemva kokuhamba kwami kuzongena izimpisi ezicindezelayo phakathi kwenu futhi ngeke ziwuphathe ngozwela umhlambi, naphakathi kwenu imbala, kuzovela amadoda akhulume izinto ezisontekile ukuze amonyule abafundi ukuba bawalandele.”—IzE. 20:29, 30.

⁹ AmaKristu afundiswa ukuthi ayengawabona kanjani lawo madoda ayingozi futhi awagweme. Abadala abangamaKristu bayalwa ukuba bakhiphe izihlubuki ebandleni. (1 Thim. 1:19; 2 Thim. 2:16-19; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 2 Joh. 10) Noma kunjalo, njengo-Israyeli noJuda wakudala, kancane kancane amaKristu amaningi agcina engasazinaki izixwayiso ezibonisa uthando. Kwathi kuphela ikhulu lokuqala leminyaka, izihlubuki zase zigcwele ebandleni. UJohane, umphostoli wokugcina owayesaphila ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala C.E., waphawula ukuthi kwase kunokonakala okuningi ebandleni, kugcwele nabantu abavukelayo. Uyena kuphela owayesevimbela ukuba ibandla lingagcwali izimfundiso zamanga. (2 Thes. 2:6-8; 1 Joh. 2:18) Kwenzekani ngemva kokufa kukaJohane?

10, 11. Umfanekiso kaJesu kakolweni nokhula wagcwaliseka kanjani kusukela ekhulwini lesibili C.E. kuqhubeke?

¹⁰ Ngemva kokufa kukaJohane, umfanekiso kaJesu kakolweni nokhula waqala ukugcwaliseka. (Funda uMathewu 13:24-30.) Njengoba uJesu ayebikezele, uSathane wagcwalisa “ukhula” ebandleni, noma abantu abenza sengathi bangamaKristu, ngenxa yalokho ibandla lonakala nakakhulu. Kumelwe ukuba kwamzwisa ubuhlungu uJehova ukubona ibandla elaliqalwe iNdodana yakhe selingcoliswe ukukhonzwa kwezithombe, amaholidi namasiko obuqaba kanye nezimfundiso zamanga ezivela emibonweni yabantu abangakholelwa kuNkulunkulu nasezinkolweni ezikhonza uSathane! Yini uJehova ayenza? Wavumela abantu bakhe badingiswa njengoba ayenzile  ku-Israyeli ongathembekile. Esikhathini esithile ngemva kwekhulu lesibili C.E. kuqhubeke, kwase kunzima ukubona labo afana nokolweni ngenxa yokuthi kwase kugcwele abantu abazenza amaKristu. Ibandla lamaKristu eqiniso, empeleni lalithunjwe iBhabhiloni Elikhulu, okuwumbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, kuyilapho labo ababezenza amaKristu base beyingxenye yalo mbuso owonakele. Njengoba labo ababezenza amaKristu banda, kwabe sekuqala lokho okubizwa ngokuthi eLobukholwa.

¹¹ Phakathi nakho konke ukubusa kweLobukholwa, ayekhona amaKristu eqiniso, ‘awukolweni’ emfanekisweni kaJesu. NjengamaJuda ayedingisiwe okukhulunywa ngawo kuHezekeli 6:9, la maKristu awazange amkhohlwe uNkulunkulu weqiniso. Ngesibindi, amanye aziphikisa izimfundiso zeLobukholwa ezingamanga. Enziwa inhlekisa futhi ashushiswa. Ingabe uJehova wayezobashiya abantu bakhe kuleyo nkolo yamanga? Cha! Njengoba enza ku-Israyeli wasendulo, uJehova wathukuthela ngezinga elifanele kodwa hhayi isikhathi eside ngokungadingekile. (Jer. 46:28) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova wabanika ithemba abantu bakhe. Ake siphindele kulawo maJuda ayedingisiwe eBhabhiloni lasendulo, sibone ukuthi uJehova wawanika kanjani ithemba lokuthi ayezokhululwa.

12, 13. Kungani uJehova ayengeke esabathukuthelela abantu bakhe ababedingisiwe ngosuku lukaHezekeli?

¹² UJehova akazange afihle ukuthi wayebathukuthelele abantu bakhe, kodwa waphinde wabaqinisekisa ngokuthi wayengeke abathukuthelele phakade. Ngokwesibonelo, phawula la mazwi: “Intukuthelo yami iyophela, ngeke ngisababonisa ulaka, ngiyokwaneliseka. Bayokwazi ukuthi mina, Jehova, ngikhulumile ekuphikeleleni kwami ngifuna abantu bazinikele kimi ngokuphelele, lapho sengiqedile ukudedela ulaka lwami kubo.” (Hez. 5:13) Yini eyayizokwenza uJehova angabe esathukuthela?

¹³ Phakathi kwababethunjiwe kwakukhona namaJuda athembekile ayedingiswe kanye namanye angathembekile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, esebenzisa uHezekeli, uNkulunkulu wabikezela ukuthi abanye babantu baKhe babeyophenduka ngesikhathi besadingisiwe. La maJuda ayeyozisola futhi akhumbule izinto ezimbi ayezenzile lapho ehlubuka uNkulunkulu, amcele ukuba awaxolele futhi awabonise umusa. (Hez. 6:8-10; 12:16) UHezekeli, umprofethi uDaniyeli kanye nabangane bakhe abathathu babephakathi kwabantu abathembekile. Empeleni uDaniyeli waphila isikhathi eside waze wabona lapho amaJuda eyiswa ekudingisweni nalapho ekhululwa ekudingisweni. Umthandazo wakhe osuka enhliziyweni omayelana nokuphenduka  kwama-Israyeli ezonweni zawo ubhalwe kuDaniyeli isahluko 9. Akubangabazeki ukuthi indlela ayezizwa ngayo yayifana nendlela ezazizizwa ngayo izinkulungwane zamaJuda ayedingisiwe, ezazilangazelela intethelelo kaJehova nezibusiso zakhe. Yingakho izithembiso zikaHezekeli eziphefumulelwe zokukhululwa nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu zaziwajabulisa kakhulu!

14. Kungani uJehova ayeyobuyisela abantu bakhe ezweni labo?

¹⁴ Nokho, kwakunesizathu esibaluleke nakakhulu esenza uJehova wakhulula abantu bakhe futhi wabuyisela indlela emsulwa yokumkhonza. Ukudingiswa kwabo kwakuyophela ngenxa yokuthi kwase kuphinde kwaba isikhathi sikaJehova sokungcwelisa igama lakhe phambi kwezizwe, hhayi ngoba babekufanelekela ukukhululwa. (Hez. 36:22) AbaseBhabhiloni babezokwazi ukuthi onkulunkulu babo abangamademoni, abanjengoMarduk, babengenakuqhathaniswa neNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova! Ake sixoxe ngezithembiso ezinhlanu uJehova aphefumulela uHezekeli ukuba azitshele ayedingiswe nabo. Sizoqala ngokuxoxa ngokuthi isithembiso ngasinye sasisho ukuthini kulabo ababethembekile. Ngemva kwalokho, sizobona ukuthi lezo zithembiso kamuva zagcwaliseka kanjani ngezinga elikhulu.

15. Ababuya ekudingisweni babezokwenza luphi ushintsho endleleni ababekhonza ngayo?

¹⁵ ISITHEMBISO SOKUQALA. Babengeke besakhonza izithombe noma benze eminye imikhuba enyanyisayo ehlobene nenkolo yamanga. (Funda uHezekeli 11:18; 12:24.) Njengoba kuboniswe eSahlukweni 5 sale ncwadi, iJerusalema nethempeli lalo lase lingcoliswe imikhuba yamanga efana nokukhonza izithombe. Ngenxa yalokho, abantu base bonakele, behlukanisiwe noJehova. Esebenzisa uHezekeli, uJehova wabikezela ukuthi ababedingisiwe babengaba nethemba lokuthi babeyophinde bamkhonze ngendlela ehlanzekile. Zonke ezinye izibusiso zaziyoncika kule nto eyodwa ebalulekile: ukubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu.

16. Yisiphi isithembiso uJehova asenza mayelana nezwe labantu bakhe?

¹⁶ ISITHEMBISO SESIBILI. Babeyobuyela ezweni labo. UJehova wathi kwababedingisiwe: ‘Ngizoninika izwe lakwa-Israyeli.’ (Hez. 11: 17) Kwakuyisithembiso esihle lesi ngoba abaseBhabhiloni ababehlupha abantu bakaNkulunkulu abadingisiwe babengakaze nhlobo babanike ithemba lokuthi bayobuyela ezweni labo ababelithanda. (Isaya 14:4, 17) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma labo ababuya ekudingisweni babeyohlala bethembekile, izwe laliyohlala livundile futhi likhiqize, libanike ukudla nomsebenzi ozuzisayo. Usizi nokuhlambalazeka kokubulawa indlala kwakuyobe sekuyinto edlulile.—Funda uHezekeli 36:30.

17. Yini eyayizokwenzeka ngokuphathelene nemihlatshelo eya kuJehova?

¹⁷ ISITHEMBISO SESITHATHU. Babeyophinde banikele ngezipho e-altare likaJehova. Njengoba kuphawuliwe eSahlukweni 2 sale ncwadi, ngaphansi koMthetho, imihlatshelo neminikelo kwakuyingxenye ebaluleke kakhulu yokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa. Uma nje ababuya ekudingisweni babeqhubeka belalela futhi bekhonza uJehova kuphela, wayeyoyamukela iminikelo yabo. Ngaleyo ndlela abantu babeyothethelelwa izono futhi babe seduze noNkulunkulu wabo. UJehova wathembisa: “Yonke indlu ka-Israyeli, yonke ngothi lwayo, iyongikhonza khona ezweni. Lapho ngiyojabula ngayo, ngifune iminikelo yenu nezithelo zokuqala zeminikelo yenu, zonke izinto zenu ezingcwele.” (Hez. 20:40) Ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa kwakuyobuyiselwa ngempela, kulethele abantu bakaNkulunkulu izibusiso.

18. UJehova wayeyobalusa kanjani abantu bakhe?

¹⁸ ISITHEMBISO SESINE. Ukuhlungwa kwabelusi ababi. Isizathu esiyinhloko esenza abantu bakaNkulunkulu baphambuka kangaka ukuthi babeholwa amadoda onakele. UJehova wathembisa ukuthi wayezokushintsha lokho. Ngokuphathelene nalabo belusi ababi, wathembisa: ‘Ngizobayekisa ukondla izimvu zami. Izimvu zami ngizozisindisa.’ Nokho, uJehova wabaqinisekisa abantu bakhe abathembekile: “Izimvu zami ngizozinakekela.” (Hez. 34:10, 12) Wayezokwenza kanjani lokho? Wayezosebenzisa amadoda athembekile naqotho ukuba abe abelusi.

19. Yini uJehova ayithembisa ngokuphathelene nobunye?

¹⁹ ISITHEMBISO SESIHLANU. Ubunye phakathi kwabantu  abakhonza uJehova. Cabanga indlela okwakuzicindezela ngayo izikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile ukubona ukuthi ngisho nangaphambi kokuba abantu bakaNkulunkulu badingiswe, babungasekho ubunye phakathi kwabo. Bethonywe abaprofethi bamanga nabelusi abonakele, abantu ababalalelanga abaprofethi abathembekile ababemelela uJehova; baze bahlukana baba amaqembu aphikisanayo. Yingakho enye yezinto ezazikhanga kakhulu ngokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu kwakuyilesi sithembiso esashiwo ngoHezekeli: “Ngiyobanika inhliziyo enobunye, ngifake umoya omusha kubo.” (Hez. 11:19) Uma nje amaJuda ayebuya ekudingisweni ayeqhubeka enobunye noJehova uNkulunkulu nabanye, akukho muntu owayeyomelana nawo. Njengesizwe, ayeyophinde akhazimulise uJehova esikhundleni sokumhlaza.

20, 21. Izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu zagcwaliseka kanjani kumaJuda ayebuya ekudingisweni?

²⁰ Lezo zithembiso ezinhlanu zagcwaliseka yini kumaJuda ayebuya ekudingisweni? Kufanele sikhumbule amazwi kaJoshuwa othembekile wasendulo: “Akukho nesisodwa isithembiso kuzo zonke izithembiso ezinhle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu anithembise zona esingafezekanga. Zigcwaliseke zonke. Asikho nesisodwa esingagcwalisekanga.” (Josh. 23:14) Kwaba njalo osukwini lukaJoshuwa,  kwakuzoba njalo nangamaJuda ayedingisiwe ayebuyela ezweni lawo.

²¹ AmaJuda ayeka ukukhonza izithombe nokwenza ezinye izinto ezinyanyisayo ezihlobene nenkolo yamanga ezazikade ziwahlukanise noJehova. Nakuba kwakungase kubonakale kungenakwenzeka, abuyela ezweni lawo, alima futhi aphila kamnandi. Enye yezinto zokuqala azenza kwaba ukwakha kabusha i-altare likaJehova eJerusalema nokwenza iminikelo eyamukelekayo kulo. (Ezra 3:2-6) UJehova wababusisa ngokubanika abelusi abahle, abafana nompristi othembekile owayengumkopishi u-Ezra, ababusi uNehemiya noZerubhabhele, uMpristi Ophakeme uJoshuwa nabaprofethi abanesibindi uHagayi, uZakariya noMalaki. Uma nje abantu babelalela isiqondiso sikaJehova, babeyojabulela ubunye okwase kuyisikhathi eside babugcina.—Isaya 61:1-4; funda uJeremiya 3:15.

22. Sazi kanjani ukuthi ukugcwaliseka kokuqala kweziprofetho ezimayelana nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu kwakumane kungamazwibela okuthile okukhulu nakakhulu?

²² Ukugcwaliseka kokuqala kwezithembiso zikaJehova ezimayelana nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokumkhonza kwakukhuthaza ngempela! Noma kunjalo, lokho kugcwaliseka kwakumane nje kungamazwibela okuthile okukhulu nakakhulu okwakuseza. Sazi kanjani? Sazi ngoba lezi zithembiso zazinombandela; uJehova  wayezozigcwalisa kuphela nje uma abantu beqhubeka belalela futhi benza lokho akushoyo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi amaJuda aphinde avukela futhi angamlalela uJehova. Kodwa njengoba uJoshuwa asho, lokho uJehova akushilo kuhlale kugcwaliseka. Ngakho lezo zithembiso zazisazogcwaliseka ngezinga elikhulu. Ake sibone ukuthi kwenzeka kanjani lokho.

23, 24. ‘Izikhathi zokwenziwa kwazo zonke izinto zibe zintsha’ zaqala nini, futhi kanjani?

²³ Njengabafundi beBhayibheli, siyazi ukuthi izinsuku zokugcina zalesi simiso esibi zaqala ngo-1914. Nokho, lokhu akuzenzi zidabuke izinceku zikaJehova. IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi kunento evusa amadlingozi eyaqala ukwenzeka ngo-1914—kwaqala ‘isikhathi sokwenziwa kwazo zonke izinto zibe zintsha.’ (IzE. 3:21) Sikwazi kanjani lokho? Konje kwenzekani ngo-1914? UJesu Kristu wabekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi waba iNkosi enguMesiya! Kungani lokho kwakuwukwenziwa kwezinto zibe zintsha? Khumbula ukuthi uJehova wayethembise iNkosi uDavide ukuthi amakhosi avela emndenini wakhe ayeyobusa kuze kube phakade. (1 IziKr. 17:11-14) Ukubusa kwalawo makhosi avela ohlwini lukaDavide kwaphazamiseka ngo-607 B.C.E. lapho abaseBhabhiloni bebhubhisa iJerusalema.

²⁴ Njengoba ‘ayeyiNdodana yomuntu,’ uJesu wayengowozalo lukaDavide, ngakho wathola ilungelo elingokomthetho lokuba indlalifa yobukhosi bukaDavide. (Math. 1:1; 16:13-16; Luka 1:32, 33) Ngo-1914 lapho uJehova ebeka uJesu esihlalweni sobukhosi sasezulwini, kwaqala ‘izikhathi zokwenziwa kwazo zonke izinto zibe zintsha’! Manje yayisivulekile indlela yokuba uJehova asebenzise leyo Nkosi engenaso isono ukuba iqhubeke nomsebenzi wokwenza izinto zibe zintsha.

25, 26. (a) AbaFundi BeBhayibheli ababethunjwe isikhathi eside yiBhabhiloni Elikhulu bakhululwa nini, futhi sazi kanjani? (Bheka nebhokisi elithi “Kungani Sithi U-1919?”) (b) Yini eyaqala ukugcwaliseka kusukela ngo-1919 kuqhubeke?

²⁵ Enye yezinto uKristu azenza lapho esanda kuba iNkosi kwakuwukusebenza noYise ekuhloleni indlela abantu ababemkhonza ngayo uNkulunkulu emhlabeni. (Mal. 3:1-5) Njengoba uJesu ayebikezele  emfanekisweni wakhe kakolweni nokhula, kwase kuyisikhathi eside kungelula ukuhlukanisa ukolweni phakathi kokhula noma ukuhlukanisa amaKristu agcotshiwe eqiniso kubazenzisi. * Nokho, inkathi yokuvuna yafika ngo-1914 futhi umehluko waba sobala. Eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambi kuka-1914, abaFundi BeBhayibheli abathembekile base bedalule amaphutha amakhulu eLobukholwa futhi baqala ukuzehlukanisa nalo. Kwase kuyisikhathi sokuba uJehova ayibuyisele ngokuphelele indlela emsulwa yokumkhonza. Ngakho ekuqaleni kuka-1919, eminyakeni embalwa nje ‘inkathi yokuvuna’ iqalile, abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakhululwa ekuthunjweni yiBhabhiloni Elikhulu. (Math. 13:30) Babengasathunjiwe!

²⁶ Iziprofetho zikaHezekeli eziphathelene nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu zaqala ukugcwaliseka ngezinga elikhulu, ngendlela abantu bakaNkulunkulu ababengakaze bayibone esikhathini sasendulo. Manje ake sibone ukuthi izithembiso ezinhlanu esizihlolile zigcwaliseke kanjani ngezinga elikhulu.

27. UNkulunkulu wabahlanza kanjani abantu bakhe ekukhonzeni izithombe?

²⁷ ISITHEMBISO SOKUQALA. Ukukhonza izithombe neminye imikhuba enyanyisayo yenkolo kuyaphela. Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lika-19 nangasekuqaleni kwekhulu lika-20, amaKristu athembekile ayehlangana futhi aqala ukulahla imikhuba yenkolo yamanga. Ukukholelwa kuNkulunkulu onguziqu-zintathu, inkolelo yokuthi umphefumulo womuntu awufi nenkolelo yesihogo somlilo konke kwalahlwa ngenxa yokuthi kwakungezona izimfundiso ezisekelwe emiBhalweni, kwakuyizimfundiso ezinomsuka wenkolo yamanga. Ukusetshenziswa kwezithombe ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu kwachazwa ngokuthi ukukhonza izithombe. Kancane kancane, abantu bakaNkulunkulu babona nokuthi ukusebenzisa isiphambano ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu kuwuhlobo lokukhonza izithombe.—Hez. 14:6.

28. Abantu bakaJehova babuyiselwa ngamuphi umqondo endleleni emsulwa yokumkhonza?

²⁸ ISITHEMBISO SESIBILI. Ukubuyiselwa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu endleleni efanele yokumkhonza. Njengoba ayishiya inkolo yaseBhabhiloni, amaKristu athembekile azithola esesesimweni esifanele  sokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa, lapho ayengeke aphinde alambele khona izimfundiso zikaNkulunkulu. (Funda uHezekeli 34:13, 14.) Njengoba sizobona eSahlukweni 19 sale ncwadi, uJehova ubusise abantu bakhe ngenala yokudla okuyizimfundiso zakhe, osekutholakala ngezinga elikhulu kunanini ngaphambili.—Hez. 11:17.

29. Ukwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela kwakhuthazwa kanjani ngo-1919?

²⁹ ISITHEMBISO SESITHATHU. Baphinde banikele ngezipho e-altare likaJehova. Emuva ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., amaKristu afundiswa ukuthi kwakufanele anganikeli ngemihlatshelo yezilwane kunalokho anikele ngezipho eziyigugu kakhulu, okungamazwi ayewakhuluma lapho edumisa uJehova nalapho eshumayeza abanye ngaye. (Heb. 13:15) Phakathi namakhulu eminyaka amaKristu ethunjiwe, yayingekho indlela ehlelekile yokwenza leyo minikelo. Nokho, lapho sekusondele ukuba bakhululwe, abantu bakaNkulunkulu  base beyenza imihlatshelo enjalo yokudumisa. Babematasa emsebenzini wokushumayela futhi bedumisa uNkulunkulu ngenjabulo emihlanganweni yabo. Kusukela ngo-1919 kuqhubeke, “inceku ethembekile neqondayo” yakhuthaza ukuba kwenziwe umsebenzi wokushumayela futhi yawuhlela kahle. (Math. 24:45-47) Ngakho, i-altare likaJehova lase ligcwele imihlatshelo yebutho elandayo labantu abadumisa igama lakhe elingcwele!

30. Yini uJesu ayenza ukuze abantu bakhe babe nabelusi abahle?

³⁰ ISITHEMBISO SESINE. Ukuhlungwa kwabelusi ababi. UKristu wakhulula abantu bakaNkulunkulu kubelusi bamanga beLobukholwa, abonakele nabazicabangela bona. Emhlanjini kaKristu, abelusi ababelingisa labo belusi bamanga babesuswa ezikhundleni zabo. (Hez. 20:38) UJesu, njengoMalusi Omuhle, waqinisekisa ukuthi izimvu zakhe ziyanakekelwa. Ngo-1919 wabeka inceku yakhe ethembekile neqondayo. Lelo qembu elincane lamaKristu agcotshiwe aqotho lahola ekunikezeni abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukudla okuyizimfundiso zikaNkulunkulu, ngakho labo bantu babenakekelwa kahle. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwaqeqeshwa abadala ukuba basize ekunakekeleni “umhlambi kaNkulunkulu.” (1 Pet. 5:1, 2) Incazelo ephefumulelwe ekuHezekeli 34:15, 16 ibilokhu isetshenziselwa ukukhumbuza abelusi abangamaKristu indlela yokuphatha umhlambi, ebekwe uJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu.

31. UJehova wasigcwalisa kanjani isiprofetho esikuHezekeli 11:19?

³¹ ISITHEMBISO SESIHLANU. Ubunye phakathi kwezikhonzi zikaJehova. Njengoba iminyaka ihamba, eLobukholwa liye lahlukana laba amashumi ezinkulungwane zamasonto, kuhlanganise namaqembu amaningi namahlelo angabumbene aphikisanayo. Ngokungafani neLobukholwa, uJehova uye wenza into emangalisa ngempela ngabantu bakhe aye wababuyisela endleleni emsulwa yokumkhonza. Isithembiso sakhe asenza ngoHezekeli, esithi, “Ngiyobanika inhliziyo enobunye,” sigcwaliseke ngendlela ekhazimulayo. (Hez. 11:19) Emhlabeni wonke, uKristu unezigidi zabalandeli abavela ezinhlangeni eziningi, ezinkolweni, nasezizindeni zomnotho nezenhlalo ezihlukahlukene. Noma kunjalo, bonke bafundiswa amaqiniso afanayo futhi benza umsebenzi ofanayo bavumelane ngendlela emangalisayo. Ngobusuku bakhe bokugcina esemhlabeni, uJesu wathandaza ngokusuka enhliziyweni ecela ukuba abalandeli bakhe babe nobunye. (Funda uJohane 17:11, 20-23.) Osukwini lwethu, uJehova uye wasiphendula ngezinga elikhulu kakhulu leso sicelo.

32. Uzizwa kanjani ngokugcwaliseka kweziprofetho eziphathelene nendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu? (Bheka nebhokisi elithi “Iziprofetho Ezimayelana Nokuthunjwa, Nokubuyiselwa Kwendlela Emsulwa Yokukhonza UNkulunkulu.”)

³² Akukujabulisi yini ukuphila phakathi nesikhathi esijabulisayo sokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu? Siyakubona ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zikaHezekeli kuzo zonke izingxenye zokukhonza kwethu uNkulunkulu namuhla. Singaqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uyajabula manje ngabantu bakhe, njengoba abikezela ngoHezekeli: “Ngiyojabula ngani.” (Hez. 20:41) Uyaliqaphela yini ilungelo onalo lokuba ingxenye yabantu abanobunye, abondliwa kahle, abadumisa uJehova emhlabeni wonke—abantu  abakhululiwe ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka bethunjiwe ngokomfanekiso? Noma kunjalo, ezinye iziprofetho zikaHezekeli eziphathelene nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu zisazogcwaliseka ngezinga elikhulu nakakhulu.

33-35. (a) Isiprofetho esikuHezekeli 36:35 sasisho ukuthini kumaJuda ayedingisiwe? (b) Sisho ukuthini leso siprofetho kubantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla? (Bheka nebhokisi elithi ‘Izikhathi Zokwenziwa Kwazo Zonke Izinto Zibe Zintsha.’)

³³ Njengoba sibonile, ‘izikhathi zokwenziwa kwazo zonke izinto zibe zintsha’ zaqala ngokubuyiselwa kwamakhosi asohlwini lukaDavide lapho uJesu ebekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi ngo-1914. (Hez. 37:24) Okwabe sekulandela ukuthi ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka abantu baKhe bethunjiwe ngokomoya, uJehova wanikeza uKristu amandla okubuyisela indlela emsulwa yokumkhonza phakathi kwabo. Nokho, ingabe umsebenzi kaKristu wokubuyisela indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu uphelela lapho? Lutho neze! Lowo msebenzi uzoqhubeka ngendlela emangalisayo esikhathini esizayo—futhi iziprofetho zikaHezekeli zisinikeza imininingwane ejabulisayo.

³⁴ Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngala mazwi aphefumulelwe: “Abantu bayothi: ‘Izwe elaliyincithakalo selifana nensimu yase-Edene.’” (Hez. 36:35) Leso sithembiso sasisho ukuthini kuHezekeli nalabo ayedingiswe nabo? Ngokuqinisekile babengalindele ukuba lesi sithembiso sigcwaliseke ngokoqobo—njengokungathi leli zwe ababuyele kulo lingase lididaniswe nensimu yase-Edene, noma iPharadesi, eyayenziwe uJehova uqobo lwakhe! (Gen. 2:8) Kunalokho, babeqonda kahle ukuthi uJehova wayebaqinisekisa ngokuthi izwe ababuyela kulo laliyoba lihle futhi likhiqize.

³⁵ Lesi sithembiso sisho ukuthini kithi namuhla? Asilindele ukuba lesi sithembiso sigcwaliseke ngokoqobo manje kuleli zwe elibi elibuswa uSathane uDeveli. Kunalokho, siyaqonda ukuthi lawo mazwi agcwaliseka ngendlela engokomfanekiso namuhla. Njengezinceku zikaJehova, sihlala ezweni elingokomfanekiso lapho sikhonza khona uNkulunkulu futhi senze inkonzo yakhe engcwele ibe into ebaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwethu. Leli zwe elingokomfanekiso kancane kancane liya lifana nepharadesi. Kuthiwani-ke ngesikhathi esizayo?

36, 37. Yiziphi izithembiso eziyogcwaliseka ePharadesi elizayo?

³⁶ Ngemva kwempi ye-Armagedoni, uJesu uyokwandisa umsebenzi wakhe wokwenza zonke izinto zibe zintsha uhlanganise ngisho nomhlaba. Phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane, uyoqondisa abantu ukuba benze lo mhlaba ube insimu yase-Edene, noma ipharadesi, ube yilokho uJehova ayefuna ube yikho kwasekuqaleni! (Luka 23:43) Ngemva kwalokho, bonke abantu bayophila ngokuzwana, bawuphathe kahle nomhlaba oyikhaya labo. Ngeke kube khona ngozi esongela ukuphila kwabo. Cabanga ngesikhathi okuyogcwaliseka ngaso ngisho nalesi sithembiso: ‘Ngiyokwenza nabo isivumelwano sokuthula, ngiqede izilwane zasendle eziyingozi ezweni, ukuze bahlale ngokuphepha ehlane, balale emahlathini.’—Hez. 34:25.

 ³⁷ Awubone lokhu ngeso lengqondo. Uyokwazi ukuvakashela noma iyiphi indawo kulo mhlaba, ungesabi lutho. Akukho zilwane eziyokulimaza. Akukho lutho oluyokukhathaza. Uyokwazi ukuzihambela wedwa ehlathini elicinene, ujabulele ukubuka ubuhle balo, uze ulale nokulala khona ngokulondeka, uqiniseka ukuthi uzovuka uphumule kahle futhi ungalimele ndawo!

38. Uzizwa kanjani ngokubona isithembiso esikuHezekeli 28:26 sigcwaliseka?

³⁸ Nasi esinye isithembiso esiyosibona sigcwaliseka: “Bayohlala kulo [izwe] belondekile, bakhe izindlu batshale amasimu amagilebhisi, bayohlala ngokulondeka lapho ngikhipha isahlulelo kubo bonke ababazungezile ababenza inhlekisa; bayokwazi ukuthi nginguJehova uNkulunkulu wabo.” (Hez. 28:26) Lapho zonke izitha zikaJehova seziqediwe, siyojabulela ukuthula nokulondeka emhlabeni wonke. Njengoba siyobe sinakekela umhlaba, siyokwazi nokuzinakekela thina nezihlobo zethu, sakhe imizi emihle esiyohlala kuyo sitshale nezihlahla zamagilebhisi.

39. Kungani ungaqiniseka ukuthi iziprofetho ezabhalwa uHezekeli eziphathelene nePharadesi ziyofezeka?

³⁹ Ingabe lezi zithembiso zizwakala ziyiphupho nje kuwe? Uma kunjalo, khumbula lokho osukubonile phakathi nalesi sikhathi ‘sokwenziwa kwazo zonke izinto zibe zintsha.’ Naphezu kokuphikisa kukaSathane okubi kakhulu, uJesu uye wanikezwa amandla okubuyisela indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu phakathi nalesi sikhathi esibi kakhulu emlandweni wesintu. Lokho kuwubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi zonke izithembiso uNkulunkulu azisho ngoHezekeli ziyofezeka!