1, 2. Imiphi imibono ehlukahlukene ekhona ngepharadesi?

OFAKAZI babevalelisa izihambeli zomhlangano njengoba zaziphuma enkundleni ngemva komhlangano owawuseSeoul eKorea, futhi wonke umuntu wayehlengezela izinyembezi. Abaningi babememeza bethi, “Sizobonana ePharadesi!” Ucabanga ukuthi babesho liphi ipharadesi?

² Abantu bacabanga izinto ezihlukahlukene ngePharadesi. Abanye bathi ipharadesi limane liyiphupho nje. Abanye bathi ipharadesi yinoma yikuphi lapho bethola khona injabulo nokwaneliseka. Umuntu omenyelwa edilini ngemva kwesikhathi eside agcina ukudla, angase azizwe esepharadesi. Lapho isivakashi sangekhulu le-19 sibona indawo egcwele izimbali sababaza, “Hawe ma, yaze yayipharadesi le ndawo!” Leyo ndawo isabizwa ngokuthi iPharadesi namanje, nakuba kukhithika kuyo iqhwa elingaphezu kwamamitha angu-15 njalo ngonyaka. Lisho ukuthini kuwe iPharadesi? Ingabe unethemba lokuthi liyoba khona?

3. IBhayibheli lisinika muphi umbono ngepharadesi?

³ IBhayibheli likhuluma ngepharadesi elake laba khona nelisazoba khona esikhathini esizayo. IPharadesi sifunda ngalo encwadini yokuqala yeBhayibheli. EBhayibhelini lamaKatolika i-Douay Version ehunyushwe isuselwa olimini lwesiLatini, uGenesise 2:8 ufundeka kanje: “INkosi uNkulunkulu yatshala ipharadesi lenjabulo  ekuqaleni: lapho eyabeka khona [u-Adamu] eyayimenzile.” (Omalukeke sizenzele.) UmBhalo wesiHebheru ukhuluma ngensimu yase-Edene. Igama elithi Edene lisho “Injabulo,” futhi leyo nsimu yayijabulisa ngempela. Kwakunokudla okuningi, kuyindawo enhle futhi abantu nezilwane behlala ngokuthula.—Gen. 1:29-31.

4. Kungani singathi insimu yase-Edene yayiyipharadesi?

⁴ Igama lesiHebheru elithi “insimu” lihunyushwa ngokuthi pa·raʹdei·sos ngesiGreki. I-Cyclopaedia kaM’Clintock noStrong ithi nge-pa·raʹdei·sos: “Ipaki elikhulu elivulekile, elihlanzekile, elinezihlahla ezinhle ezinezithelo, linemifula egelezayo ezungezwe utshani lapho kuklabise khona imihlambi yezinyamazane nezimvu—yilokhu isivakashi esingumGreki esikucabangayo ngaleli gama.”—Qhathanisa noGenesise 2:15, 16.

5, 6. Lalahleka kanjani iPharadesi, futhi lokhu kuphakamisa muphi umbuzo?

⁵ UNkulunkulu wabeka u-Adamu no-Eva ensimini enjalo, kodwa abazange bahlale isikhathi eside kuyo. Kungani? UNkulunkulu wabaxosha ngoba abazange bamlalele. Ngakho bona nenzalo yabo balahlekelwa iPharadesi. (Gen. 3:23, 24) Nakuba yayingasahlali muntu, leyo nsimu yaqhubeka ikhona kwaze kwafika uZamcolo wosuku lukaNowa.

⁶ Abanye bangase bazibuze, ‘Abantu bayoke baphile yini futhi emhlabeni oyiPharadesi?’ Lithini iBhayibheli ngalokhu? Uma unethemba lokuphila nabantu obathandayo ePharadesi, isiphi isizathu onaso sokuthi kuyokwenzeka ngempela lokhu? Ungakwazi ukuchaza ukuthi kungani uqiniseka ngokuthi iPharadesi lizoba khona?

7, 8. (a) Yisiphi isithembiso uNkulunkulu asenza ku-Abrahama? (b) Isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sasingamenza acabangeni u-Abrahama?

⁷ IBhayibheli liyindawo engcono esingathola kuyo izimpendulo zemibuzo ngePharadesi, ngoba labhalwa uMdali walo. Cabanga ngalokho uNkulunkulu akutshela umngane wakhe u-Abrahama. UNkulunkulu wathi wayezoyandisa inzalo ka-Abrahama ibe “ngangesihlabathi esisogwini lolwandle.” UJehova wabe esenza lesi sithembiso: “Ngenzalo yakho zonke izizwe zomhlaba ngokuqinisekile ziyobusiswa ngenxa yokuthi ulalelé izwi lami.” (Gen. 22:17, 18) UJehova waphinde wasisho lesi sithembiso endodaneni ka-Abrahama nakumzukulu wakhe.—Funda uGenesise 26:4; 28:14.

⁸ Akukho ndawo eBhayibhelini lapho u-Abrahama ayecabanga khona ukuthi abantu bazophila epharadesi elisezulwini. Ngakho, lapho uNkulunkulu ekhuluma ngokubusisa “zonke izizwe zomhlaba,” kumelwe ukuba u-Abrahama wacabanga ngezibusiso eziyoba khona emhlabeni. Lesi sithembiso sasivela kuNkulunkulu, ngakho sasibhekisela ekubusisweni kwazo “zonke izizwe zomhlaba.” Bukhona yini obunye ubufakazi esibuthola kubantu bakaNkulunkulu obusekela lokhu?

9, 10. Yiziphi ezinye izithembiso ezisinika izizathu zokukholelwa ukuthi ipharadesi lizoba khona esikhathini esizayo?

⁹ UDavide owayevela enzalweni ka-Abrahama, wakhuluma ngesikhathi lapho “abenzi bokubi” nalabo “abenza ukungalungi” beyobe bengasekho. Uyoba yini umphumela walokhu? ‘Omubi uyobe engasekho.’ (IHu. 37:1, 2, 10) Kunalokho, “abamnene bayodla ifa lomhlaba, futhi ngempela bayothola injabulo enkulu ngokuchichima kokuthula.” UDavide waphinde wabikezela: “Abalungile bayokudla ifa lomhlaba, futhi bayohlala kuwo kuze kube phakade.” (IHu. 37:11, 29; 2 Sam. 23:2) Ucabanga ukuthi lezi zithembiso zabathinta kanjani abantu ababefuna ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu? Babeyoba nesizathu sokulindela ukuthi uma kungabantu abalungile kuphela abayohlala emhlabeni, khona-ke ipharadesi elinjengensimu  yase-Edene laliyophinde libe khona.

¹⁰ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, iningi lama-Israyeli elalithi likhonza uJehova lamshiya futhi layeka ukumkhonza. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu wavumela abaseBhabhiloni ukuba bawanqobe, babhuqe izwe lawo futhi bathathe amaningi bawayise ekudingisweni. (2 IziKr. 36:15-21; Jer. 4:22-27) Noma kunjalo, abaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu babikezela ukuthi ngemva kweminyaka engu-70, abantu bakhe babeyophindela ezweni labo. Lezo ziprofetho zagcwaliseka. Kodwa nathi ziyasithinta namuhla. Njengoba sizoxoxa ngezinye zazo, phawula indlela ezisiqinisekisa ngayo ngokuthi ipharadesi lizoba khona emhlabeni esikhathini esizayo.

11. Wagcwaliseka kanjani u-Isaya 11:6-9, futhi yimuphi umbuzo esingazibuza wona?

¹¹ Funda u-Isaya 11:6-9. UNkulunkulu wabikezela ngo-Isaya ukuthi lapho abantu bakhe sebephindela ezweni labo, babengeke babhekane nezimo eziyingozi noma besabe ukuhlaselwa izilwane nabantu abanodlame. Bonke abantu babeyohlala ngokulondeka. Ingabe lokhu akukwenzi ucabange ngezimo ezinjengalezo ezazikhona ensimini yase-Edene? (Isaya 51:3) Leso siprofetho sika-Isaya saphinde sathi umhlaba wonke—hhayi nje isizwe sakwa-Israyeli kuphela—‘wawuyogcwala ulwazi ngoJehova njengoba nje amanzi esibekela ulwandle.’ Kuyokwenzeka nini lokhu?

12. (a) Yiziphi izibusiso ezatholwa yilabo ababebuya ekudingisweni eBhabhiloni? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi u-Isaya 35:5-10 usazophinde agcwaliseke?

¹² Funda u-Isaya 35:5-10. U-Isaya waphinde wagcizelela ukuthi labo abayobe bebuye ekudingisweni babengeke besabe izilwane noma abantu. Izwe labo laliyokhiqiza izithelo eziningi ngoba laliyogeleza amanzi amaningi, njengoba kwakunjalo ensimini yase-Edene. (Gen. 2:10-14; Jer. 31:12) Ingabe sasiyogcwaliseka ngaleso sikhathi kuphela lesi sithembiso? Abukho ubufakazi obubonisa ukuthi labo ababuya ekudingisweni belapheka ngokuyisimangaliso. Ngokwesibonelo, izimpumputhe azizange zibone. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu wayebonisa ukuthi wayezoziqeda esikhathini esizayo izifo.

13, 14. AmaJuda ayedingisiwe akubona kanjani ukugcwaliseka kuka-Isaya 65:21-23, kodwa iyiphi ingxenye yaleso siprofetho okusadingeka igcwaliseke? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

¹³ Funda u-Isaya 65:21-23. AmaJuda awaphindelanga emizini enethezekile futhi awazange afice sekutshaliwe emasimini. Kodwa lokho kwakuyoshintsha njengoba uNkulunkulu ayezowabusisa. Kwakuyowajabulisa ngempela ukuzakhela izindlu futhi ahlale kuzo! Ayeyokwazi ukutshala futhi ajabulele ukudla izithelo ezinomsoco.

¹⁴ Phawula into ebalulekile eshiwo yilesi siprofetho. Ingabe siyofika isikhathi lapho izinsuku zethu “ziyoba njengezinsuku zomuthi”? Ezinye izihlahla ziphila iminyaka eyizinkulungwane. Abantu kungadingeka babe nempilo enhle ukuze baphile isikhathi eside kangako. Uma bengaphila ngaphansi kwezimo u-Isaya aprofetha ngazo, abantu bayobe sebephila epharadesi ngempela! Lesi siprofetho siyogcwaliseka nakanjani!

15. Ungazifingqa kanjani ezinye zezibusiso okukhulunywa ngazo encwadini ka-Isaya?

¹⁵ Cabanga indlela izithembiso okuxoxwe ngazo eziyogcwaliseka ngayo epharadesi elizayo: UNkulunkulu uyobusisa bonke abantu emhlabeni. Akekho oyoba sengozini yokuhlaselwa izilwane eziyingozi noma abantu abanodlame. Izimpumputhe, izithulu nabakhubazekile bayokwelashwa. Abantu bayokwazi ukwakha izindlu zabo futhi bajabulele ukutshala ukudla okunempilo. Bayophila isikhathi eside ukwedlula izihlahla. IBhayibheli linobufakazi bokuthi lokhu kuzokwenzeka. Noma kunjalo, abanye bangase bathi lezi ziprofetho ngeke zigcwaliseke ngokoqobo. Ungabaphendula kanjani? Isiphi isizathu esiphathekayo onaso sokuqiniseka ngokuthi ipharadesi elingokoqobo lizoba khona emhlabeni? Umuntu  omkhulu kunabo bonke owake waphila wasinika isizathu esinamandla.

16, 17. Kwakwenzenjani uJesu aze akhulume ngePharadesi?

¹⁶ Nakuba uJesu ayengenacala, walahlwa ngecala futhi wabethelwa esigxotsheni nezigebengu ezimbili ezingamaJuda. Ngaphambi kokuba sife, esinye savuma ukuthi uJesu uyinkosi futhi sacela: “Jesu, ngikhumbule lapho ungena embusweni wakho.” (Luka 23:39-42) Impendulo kaJesu ekuLuka 23:43 iyalithinta nelakho ikusasa. Ezinye izazi zanamuhla zilihumusha ngokwezwi nezwi leli vesi, zithi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kuwe, namuhla uzokuba nami ePharadesi.” Phawula igama elithi “namuhla.” Wayesho ukuthini uJesu? Abantu basho izinto ezihlukahlukene.

¹⁷ Nakuba okhefana besetshenziswa ezilimini eziningi namuhla ukuze bacacise okubhaliwe, emibhalweni yesiGreki yakudala izimpawu zokubhala zazingavamile ukusetshenziswa. Ngakho, umbuzo uwukuthi: Ingabe uJesu wayethi, “Ngiyakutshela, namuhla uyokuba nami ePharadesi”? Noma wayethi, “Ngiyakutshela namuhla, uyokuba nami ePharadesi”? Abahumushi bangase bafake ukhefana ngokwalokho abacabanga ukuthi uJesu wayekusho futhi zombili lezi zindlela zokubhala ziyatholakala emaBhayibhelini anamuhla.

18, 19. Yini esisiza siqonde ukuthi uJesu wayesho ukuthini?

¹⁸ Nokho, khumbula ukuthi uJesu wayetshele abalandeli bakhe: ‘INdodana yomuntu izoba senhliziyweni yomhlaba izinsuku ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu.’ Wabuye wathi: “INdodana yomuntu imiselwe ukukhashelwa ezandleni zabantu, futhi bazoyibulala, ngosuku lwesithathu ivuswe.” (Math. 12:40; 16:21; 17:22, 23; Marku 10:34) Umphostoli uPetru wathi lokhu kwenzeka. (IzE. 10:39, 40) Ngakho, alikho iPharadesi uJesu aya kulo ngosuku yena naleso sigebengu abafa ngalo. UJesu wayesethuneni noma “eHayidesi” izinsuku ezintathu kwaze kwaba yilapho uNkulunkulu emvusa.—IzE. 2:31, 32. *

¹⁹ Ngakho, kuyacaca ukuthi isithembiso sikaJesu kuleso sigebengu saqala ngamazwi athi: “Ngiqinisile ngiyakutshela namuhla.” Leyo ndlela yokukhuluma yayivamile ngisho nangesikhathi sikaMose. Wathi: “La mazwi engikuyala ngawo namuhla kumelwe abe senhliziyweni yakho.”—Dut. 6:6; 7:11; 8:1, 19; 30:15.

20. Yini esekela indlela esiwaqonda ngayo amazwi kaJesu?

²⁰ Umhumushi weBhayibheli waseMpumalanga Ephakathi wathi ngempendulo kaJesu: “Kula mazwi kugcizelelwa igama elithi ‘namuhla’ futhi kufanele afundeke kanje, ‘Ngiqinisile ngiyakutshela namuhla, uyokuba nami ePharadesi.’ Lesi sithembiso uJesu wasenza ngalolo suku kodwa sasizofezeka kamuva. Lena kwakuyindlela abantu ababevame ukukhuluma ngayo ebonisa ukuthi isithembiso senziwe ngosuku oluthile futhi nakanjani sizogcinwa.” Ngokufanayo, inguqulo yangekhulu lesihlanu yesiSyriac ihumusha impendulo kaJesu ngale ndlela: “Amen, ngithi kuwe namuhla uzokuba nami eNsimini Yase-Edene.” Lesi sithembiso kufanele sisikhuthaze sonke.

21. Yini engazange yenzeke esigebengwini, futhi kungani?

²¹ Leso sigebengu esase sizofa sasingazi ukuthi uJesu wayenze isivumelwano nabaphostoli bakhe abathembekile sokuba babuse naye eMbusweni wasezulwini. (Luka 22:29) Ngaphezu kwalokho, sasingazange sibhapathizwe ngisho nokubhapathizwa. (Joh. 3:3-6, 12) Ngakho, kuyaqondakala  ukuthi uJesu wayekhuluma ngepharadesi lasemhlabeni. Eminyakeni ethile kamuva, umphostoli uPawulu wakhuluma ngombono wendoda ‘eyathathwa yayiswa epharadesi.’ (2 Kor. 12:1-4) Ngokungefani naleso sigebengu esase sizofa, uPawulu nabanye abaphostoli abathembekile bakhethwa ukuba baye ezulwini bayobusa noJesu eMbusweni. Nalapho, uPawulu wayekhuluma ngento eyayisazokwenzeka—“ipharadesi” lesikhathi esizayo. * Ingabe lelo pharadesi lizoba semhlabeni? Ingabe wena uyobe ukhona?

22, 23. Yiliphi ithemba ongaba nalo?

²² Khumbula ukuthi uDavide wabikezela isikhathi lapho ‘abalungile beyokudla ifa lomhlaba.’ (IHu. 37:29; 2 Pet. 3:13) UDavide wayekhuluma ngesikhathi lapho abantu emhlabeni beyophila ngokuvumelana nezindlela zikaNkulunkulu ezilungile. Isiprofetho esiku-Isaya 65:22 sithi: “Izinsuku zabantu bami ziyoba njengezinsuku zomuthi.” Lokhu kusho ukuthi abantu bayophila izinkulungwane zeminyaka. Ingabe lokhu kungenzeka? Yebo, ngoba ngokwencwadi yesAmbulo 21:1-4, uNkulunkulu uyobusisa isintu futhi esinye sezibusiso azithembisayo siwukuthi “ukufa ngeke kusaba khona” kubantu abamkhonzayo ezweni elisha elinokulunga.

²³ Lokho iBhayibheli elikufundisayo ngepharadesi kucacile. U-Adamu no-Eva balahla iPharadesi emuva le e-Edene, kodwa lizophinde libe khona. Njengoba uNkulunkulu ethembisa, abantu emhlabeni basazobusiswa. UDavide wathi abamnene nabalungile bayodla ifa lomhlaba futhi bayophila kuwo kuze kube phakade. Iziprofetho ezisencwadini ka-Isaya kufanele zisenze sikulangazelele ukufika kwaleso sikhathi esijabulisayo. Nini? Lapho kugcwaliseka isithembiso uJesu asenza esigebengwini esingumJuda. Nawe ungaphila kulelo Pharadesi. Ngaleso sikhathi, amazwi ashiwo abafowethu nodadewethu baseKorea athi, “Sizobonana ePharadesi!” ayogcwaliseka.