1-2. (a) Yini abanye ohulumeni abayenzile kubantu bakaJehova, kodwa basabela kanjani abantu bakhe? (b) Yini esenza sijabule ngisho noma sishushiswa? (Khulumela nesithombe esisekhasini 1.)

 NJENGAMANJE umsebenzi wethu ubekelwe imingcele noma uvinjelwe emazweni angaphezu kwakungu-30 emhlabeni. Kwamanye amazwe, iziphathimandla ziye zabavalela ejele abafowethu nodadewethu. Benzeni? Emehlweni kaJehova abenzanga lutho olubi. Abakwenzile nje ukufunda nokutadisha iBhayibheli, ukuxoxela abanye ngezinkolelo zabo nokuya emihlanganweni nabanye abakholwa nabo. Baye benqaba nokuthatha uhlangothi kwezepolitiki. Naphezu kokuphikiswa kanzima, lezi zinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile ziye zahlala ziqotho *​—zabonisa ukuthi zizinikele ngokuphelele kuJehova. Ziyajabula ngalokho!

² Cishe uye wazibona izithombe zalab’ oFakazi abanesibindi, wabona nokuthi bayamomotheka. Bayajabula ngoba bayazi ukuthi uJehova uyathokoza ngabo ngoba bagcina ubuqotho. (1 IziKr. 29:17a) UJesu wathi: “Bayajabula abaye bashushiswa ngenxa yokulunga . . . Jabulani nithokoze ngoba umvuzo wenu mkhulu.”​—Math. 5:10-12.

3. Njengoba kuboniswe encwadini yezEnzo 4:19, 20, abaphostoli benzenjani lapho beshushiswa ngekhulu lokuqala, futhi kungani benza kanjalo?

³ Abafowethu nodadewethu behlelwa yizinto abaphostoli abazikhuthazelela ngekhulu lokuqala ngesikhathi beshushiselwa ukushumayela ngoJesu. Abahluleli benkantolo ephakeme  yamaJuda “babayala [ngokuphindaphindiwe] ukuba bayeke ukukhuluma ngegama likaJesu.” (IzE. 4:18; 5:27, 28, 40) Benzenjani abaphostoli? (Funda izEnzo 4:19, 20.) Babazi ukuthi umuntu onegunya eliphakeme kunabo ‘wayebayale ukuba bashumayele kubantu, banikeze ubufakazi obuphelele’ ngoKristu. (IzE. 10:42) Ngakho, abakhulumeli babo, uPetru noJohane, basho ngesibindi bathi bazolalela uNkulunkulu kunokulalela labo bahluleli futhi bathi ngeke bayeke ukukhuluma ngoJesu. Ngamanye amazwi, kwakungathi babuza laba bahluleli lo mbuzo, ‘Niqonde ukuthi imiyalo yenu iphakeme kunekaNkulunkulu?’

4. Njengoba kuboniswe encwadini yezEnzo 5:27-29, abaphostoli bawabekela siphi isibonelo wonke amaKristu eqiniso, futhi singabalingisa kanjani?

⁴ Abaphostoli babeka isibonelo esihle esiye salandelwa amaKristu eqiniso kusukela ngaleso sikhathi. Babezimisele ‘ukulalela uNkulunkulu njengombusi kunabantu.’ (Funda izEnzo 5:27-29.) Ngemva kokushaywa ngenxa yokuba qotho, abaphostoli baphuma enkantolo ephakeme yamaJuda “bejabula ngelungelo lokuhlupheka ngenxa yegama likaJesu,” baqhubeka beshumayela!​—IzE. 5:40-42.

5. Yimiphi imibuzo okudingeka siyiphendule?

⁵ Isibonelo sabaphostoli siphakamisa imibuzo ethile. Ngokwesibonelo, isinqumo sabo sokulalela uNkulunkulu kunabantu sihambisana kanjani nomyalo osemBhalweni othi “umuntu makazithobe emagunyeni aphakeme”? (Roma 13:1) Namuhla ‘singabalalela’ kanjani “ohulumeni neziphathimandla,” njengoba kwasho umphostoli uPawulu, ngesikhathi esifanayo sigcine ubuqotho bethu kuNkulunkulu njengoMbusi wethu oyinhloko?​—Thithu 3:1.

6. (a) Angobani ‘amagunya aphakeme’ okukhulunywa ngawo kweyabaseRoma 13:1, futhi yisiphi isibopho esinaso kuwo? (b) Kungani bonke ababusi abangabantu benegunya?

⁶ Funda eyabaseRoma 13:1. Kuleli vesi, inkulumo ethi ‘amagunya aphakeme’ ibhekisela kubabusi abangabantu abalawula abanye. AmaKristu ayazithoba kulaba babusi.  Benza kube nokuhleleka emphakathini, babeke imithetho futhi ngezinye izikhathi baze bavikele abantu bakaJehova. (IsAm. 12:16) Ngenxa yalokho, siyalwa ukuba sikhokhe intela, inhlawulo, sibanike ukwesatshwa nodumo abalufunayo. (Roma 13:7) Noma kunjalo, labo hulumeni bezwe banegunya ngenxa nje yokuthi uJehova uyabavumela ukuba babe nalo. UJesu wasicacisa leso simiso lapho uMbusi WamaRoma uPontiyu Pilatu emphenya ngemibuzo. Lapho uPilatu ethi unegunya lokusindisa ukuphila kukaJesu noma lokuyala ukuba abulawe, uJesu wathi kuye: “Ubungeke neze ube negunya phezu kwami ngaphandle kokuba ulinikezwe phezulu.” (Joh. 19:11) Njengoba kwakunjalo ngoPilatu, igunya labo bonke ababusi abangabantu nabezepolitiki lilinganiselwe nanamuhla.

7. Kunini lapho kungamelwe sibalalele khona ababusi abangabantu, futhi yini okufanele bayazi?

⁷ AmaKristu ayayilalela imithetho yohulumeni abangabantu engangqubuzani nemithetho kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa asibalaleli abantu uma befuna senze izinto uNkulunkulu azenqabelayo noma uma besenqabela ukwenza izinto ezifunwa uNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, bangafuna izinsizwa ukuba zithathe izikhali ziyolwa. * Noma bangase basivimbele ukuba sisebenzise iBhayibheli noma izincwadi ezisekelwe kulo, basenqabele ukuba sishumayele futhi sikhonze uNkulunkulu ndawonye. Lapho ababusi belisebenzisa kabi igunya labo, njengalapho beshushisa abafundi bakaKristu, kumelwe balandise kuNkulunkulu. UJehova uyababona!​—UmSh. 5:8.

8. Uyini umehluko phakathi kwegama elithi “-phakeme” nelithi “okuphezu kwakho konke,” futhi kungani kubalulekile lokho?

⁸ Igama elithi “-phakeme” lisho ukuthi “kungcono kunokunye, kukhulu kunokunye, kuphakeme kunokunye.” Kodwa alisho ukuthi “kungcono kunakho konke, kukhulu kunakho konke, kuphakeme kunakho konke.” Lokho kuchaza elinye igama​—elithi “okuphezu kwakho konke.” Nakuba ohulumeni babantu bebizwa ngokuthi ‘amagunya aphakeme,’ kukhona elinye igunya eliphakeme kunawo wonke​—elingaphezu kwawo wonke. Izikhathi ezine eBhayibhelini uJehova uNkulunkulu ubizwa ngesiqu esithi “oPhezukonke.”​—Dan. 7:18, 22, 25, 27.

9. Yini eyabonwa umprofethi uDaniyeli emibonweni?

⁹ Umprofethi uDaniyeli wabona imibono eyambonisa ngokucacile ukuthi uJehova uphakeme kunawo wonke amagunya. Okokuqala, uDaniyeli wabona izilo ezine ezinkulu ezimelela imibuso yangesikhathi esedlule neyangesikhathi samanje—iBhabhiloni, amaMede NamaPheresiya, iGrisi, iRoma nombuso wezwe obusayo manje, uMbuso WamaNgisi NamaMelika. (Dan. 7:1-3, 17) UDaniyeli wabe esebona uJehova uNkulunkulu ehleli esihlalweni sobukhosi enkantolo yasezulwini. (Dan. 7:9, 10) Lokho okwabonwa yilo mprofethi othembekile kufanele kube isixwayiso kubabusi banamuhla.

10. UDaniyeli 7:13, 14, 27, uthi uJehova uwanika bani amandla okubusa, futhi lokho kufakazelani ngaye?

¹⁰ Funda uDaniyeli 7:13, 14, 27. UNkulunkulu uphuca bonke ohulumeni babantu amandla okubusa awanike abanye abawafanelekelayo nabanamandla kakhulu. Uwanika bani? Uwanika “othile onjengendodana yomuntu,” uJesu Kristu, ‘nabangcwele boPhezukonke’ abangu-144 000 abayobusa “kuze kube phakade.” (Dan. 7:18) Kusobala ukuthi uJehova ‘ungoPhezukonke’ ngoba uyena yedwa onegunya lokwenza isenzo esinjalo.

11. Yini enye uDaniyeli ayibhala ebonisa ukuthi uJehova uphezu kwakho konke?

 ¹¹ Izenzakalo uDaniyeli azibona embonweni zivumelana nalokho ayekushilo ngaphambili. UDaniyeli wathi: ‘UNkulunkulu wezulu ususa amakhosi abeke amakhosi.’ Wanezela nokuthi “oPhezukonke unguMbusi embusweni wabantu nokuthi uwunika lowo afuna ukumnika wona.” (Dan. 2:19-21; 4:17) Kwake kwenzeka yini uJehova wasusa amakhosi noma wawabeka? Impela kwake kwenzeka!

12. Nikeza isibonelo sendlela uJehova asusa ngayo amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo endulo. (Bheka isithombe.)

¹² UJehova ubonise ngokucacile ukuthi ungaphezu ‘kwamagunya aphakeme.’ Ake sixoxe ngezibonelo ezintathu. UFaro waseGibhithe wayegqilaze abantu bakaNkulunkulu futhi wenqaba kaningi ukubakhulula. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wabakhulula, waminzisa uFaro oLwandle Olubomvu. (Eks. 14:26-28; IHu. 136:15) UBhelishazari, inkosi yaseBhabhiloni, wenza idili ‘waziphakamisa phambi kweNkosi yamazulu, wadumisa onkulunkulu besiliva negolide’ esikhundleni sikaJehova. (Dan. 5:22, 23) Kodwa uNkulunkulu wamthobisa lowo muntu ozikhukhumezayo. “Ngabo kanye lobo busuku” uBhelishazari wabulawa, umbuso wakhe wanikezwa amaMede NamaPheresiya. (Dan. 5:28, 30, 31) UHerode Agripha I, inkosi yasePalestine, wayala ukuba umphostoli uJakobe abulawe wayesefaka umphostoli uPetru ejele, naye ehlose ukumbulala. Kodwa uJehova wamvimba. “Ingelosi kaJehova yamshaya” wafa.​—IzE. 12:1-5, 21-23.

13. Nikeza isibonelo sendlela uJehova anqoba ngayo ababusi abahlangene.

¹³ UJehova ubonise nokuthi mkhulu kunabo bonke ababusi behlangene. Walwela ama-Israyeli, ewasiza ukuba anqobe amakhosi ahlangene aseKhanani angu-31 futhi athathe indawo enkulu eZweni Lesithembiso. (Josh. 11:4-6, 20; 12:1, 7, 24) Waphinde wasiza ama-Israyeli anqoba iNkosi uBheni-hadadi nabanye ababusi baseSiriya abangu-32 ababelwa nawo.​—1 AmaKh. 20:1, 26-29.

14-15. (a) INkosi uNebukhadinezari neNkosi uDariyu bathini ngobukhosi bukaJehova? (b) Wathini umhubi ngoJehova nesizwe saKhe?

¹⁴ UJehova ubonise ngokuphindaphindiwe ukuthi ungoPhezukonke! Wayihlanyisa inkosi yaseBhabhiloni uNebukhadinezari lapho iqhosha ‘ngamandla nezikhwepha zayo nangenkazimulo yobukhulu bayo’ kunokuba  ithobeke, iqaphele ukuthi nguJehova ofanelwe udumo. Lapho eseluleme, uNebukhadinezari ‘wadumisa oPhezukonke’ futhi wavuma ukuthi “ubukhosi [bukaJehova] bungubukhosi baphakade.” Wanezela: “Akukho muntu ongamnqanda.” (Dan. 4:30, 33-35) Ngemva kokuvivinywa kobuqotho bukaDaniyeli kuNkulunkulu futhi uJehova emsindise emgodini wamabhubesi, iNkosi uDariyu yakhipha umthetho othi: “Abantu kumelwe bathuthumele besabe uNkulunkulu kaDaniyeli. Ngoba unguNkulunkulu ophilayo nohlala kuze kube phakade. Umbuso wakhe awusoze wachithwa, nokubusa kwakhe kungokwaphakade.”​—Dan. 6:7-10, 19-22, 26, 27.

¹⁵ Umhubi wathi: “UJehova uwabhuntshisile amacebo ezizwe; uzibhuntshisile izinhlelo zezizwe.” Wanezela: “Siyajabula isizwe esinoNkulunkulu onguJehova, isizwe asikhethile ukuba sibe ngesakhe.” (IHu. 33:10, 12) Impela, sinesizathu esihle sokuhlale siqotho kuJehova!

16. Yini esingaqiniseka ngayo mayelana ‘nosizi olukhulu,’ futhi kungani? (Bheka isithombe.)

¹⁶ Sesifundile ngezinto uJehova azenzile esikhathini esidlule. Ngakho-ke, yini esingayilindela esikhathini esiseduze esizayo? Singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyozisindisa izinceku zakhe ezithembekile phakathi ‘nosizi olukhulu’ oluzayo. (Math. 24:21; Dan. 12:1) Lokhu uyokwenza lapho uGogi wakwaMagogi, okuyizizwe eziyohlangana ukuze zihlasele abantu bakaNkulunkulu, ebahlasela ngonya labo abathembekile kuJehova emhlabeni wonke. Ngisho noma lezo zizwe zihlanganisa wonke amalungu angu-193 eZizwe Ezihlangene, ngeke zikwazi ukumelana noPhezukonke kanye nebutho lakhe lasezulwini! UJehova uyathembisa: “Nakanjani ngiyozikhulisa ngizingcwelise, ngizenze ngaziwe phambi kwezizwe eziningi; ziyokwazi ukuthi nginguJehova.”​—Hez. 38:14-16, 23; IHu. 46:10.

17. Lithini iBhayibheli ngekusasa lamakhosi omhlaba nelalabo abahlala beqotho kuJehova?

 ¹⁷ Ukuhlasela kukaGogi kuyoholela empini yokugcina kaJehova e-Armagedoni lapho eyobhubhisa khona ‘amakhosi omhlaba wonke owakhiwe.’ (IsAm. 16:14, 16; 19:19-21) Ngokuphambene nalokho, “ngabaqotho kuphela abayohlala emhlabeni, abaqotho abayosala kuwo.”​—IzAga 2:21, mbhw.

18. Yini amaKristu amaningi aye azimisela ukuyenza, futhi kungani? (Daniyeli 3:28)

¹⁸ Phakathi nawo wonke umlando, amaKristu amaningi eqiniso aye adela inkululeko yawo ngisho nokuphila kwawo ngenxa yeNkosi yawo EnguMbusi, uJehova. Angabagcini bobuqotho, azimisele ukwenza njengamaHebheru amathathu asindiswa esithandweni somlilo ngenxa yokwethembeka koPhezukonke.​—Funda uDaniyeli 3:28.

19. Isahlulelo uJehova ayokwahlulela ngaso abantu bakhe siyobe sisekelwe kuphi, futhi yini okumelwe siyenze manje?

¹⁹ Umhubi uDavide wabhala ngokubaluleka kokugcina ubuqotho kuNkulunkulu: “UJehova uyozigweba izizwe. O Jehova, ngahlulele ngokokulunga kwami nangokobuqotho bami.” (IHu. 7:8) UDavide waphinde wathi: “Kwangathi ubuqotho nokuqonda kungangilonda.” (IHu. 25:21) Indlela yokuphila ezedlula zonke iwukuhlala sithembekile kuJehova, sigcine ubuqotho bethu kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibhekana nani! Siyobe sesizizwa ngendlela azizwa ngayo umhubi owathi: “Bayajabula abagcina ubuqotho . . . , abahamba ngomthetho kaJehova.”​—IHu. 119:1, mbhw.