Enye yezona zinesidima kanti nezona nyaniso zityhiliweyo eBhayibhileni yeyokubuya kwesibini kukaKristu ukuza kufeza umsebenzi omkhulu wohlangulo. Kubantu bakaThixo abangabaphambukeli, abashiywa ixesha elide “ezweni nasethunzini lokufa,” ithemba elinexabiso nelikhuthaza uvuyo, linikwe kwisithembiso sokubonakala kwaKhe, Lowo “uluvuko nobomi,” ukuba “ababuyisele ekhaya abagxothwa.” Imfundiso yokubuya kwesibini ihamba phambili kwiziBhalo eziNgcwele. Kususela kwimini xa isibini sokuqala sajika amanyathelo osizi ukusuka e-Eden, abantwana bokholo balindele ukubuya kwaLowo wesiThembiso ukuba azokwaphula amandla omtshabalalisi ababuyisele kwakhona kwiParadesi eyalahlekayo. Amadoda angcwele akudala ayekhangele phambili ekufikeni kukaMesiya eseluzukweni, njengokuzaliseka kwethemba lawo. UEnoki, owesixhenxe ngokwenzala ukususela kwabo babehlala e-Eden, yena owathi iinkulungwane ezintathu esemhlabeni wahamba noThixo wakhe, waza wavunyelwa ukuba akubone ekude ukuza koMhlanguli. “Yabonani,” watsho, “[i]yeza iNkosi namawakawaka abangcwele bayo, ukuba igwebe bonke.” Yuda 14, 15. Inyange uYobhi, ngobusuku bokuthuthunjiswa kwakhe, wadanduluka ngethemba elingagungqiyo: “Ndiyazi ukuba umhlawuleli wam uhleli; engowokuphela, uya kusuka eme phezu kothuli lomhlaba; . . . ndiya kumbona uThixo, endiya kuzibonela mna ngokwam; amehlo am ambone, ingabi wumbi.” Yobhi 19:25-27. IE18 271.1
Ukuza kukaKristu okuza kungenisa ulawulo lobulungisa lukhuthaze ezona ntetho zineyona ndili nemvakalelo zababhali abangcwele. Iimbongi nabaprofeti beBhayibhile bahlala kuyo ngamazwi avutha umlilo wezulu. Umdumisi wavuma ngamandla nobungangamsha boKumkani kaIsrayeli: “EZiyon, ukuphela kweenzwana, uyakhazimla uThixo. Uyeza uThixo wethu, akayi kuthi cwaka. . . . Ubiza izulu phezulu, nehlabathi, ukuba agwebe phakathi kwabantu bakhe.” INdumiso 50:2-4. “Liya kuvuya izulu, ligcobe ihlabathi . . . phambi koYehova, ngokuba esiza kugweba ihlabathi. Uya kuligweba elimiweyo ngobulungisa, nezizwe ngokunyanisa kwakhe.” INdumiso 96:11-13. IE18 271.2
Wathi umprofeti uIsaya: “Vukani, nimemelele, nina bahleli eluthulini; kuba ngumbethe wezikhanyiso umbethe wakho, nehlabathi liya kubakhupha abangasekhoyo.” “Abafileyo bakho baya kuphila, nezidumbu zakowethu ziya kuvuka.” “Iya kuginya ukufa kuphele, izisule iNkosi uYehova iinyembezi ebusweni bonke, ingcikivo yabantu bayo iyisuse ehlabathini lonke, kuba uYehova ethethile. Kuya kuthiwa ngaloo mini, Yabona lo nguThixo wethu; besithembele kuye, ukuba asisindise; nguYehova lo besithembele kuye; masigcobe, sivuye ngosindiso lwakhe.” Isaya 26:19; 25:8, 9. IE18 272.1
UHabhakuki, efunqulwe embonweni ongcwele, wakubona ukuvela kwaKhe. “UThixo uza evela kwaTeman, Oyingcwele evela ezintabeni zaseParan. Igungubele amazulu indili yakhe, ihlabathi lizele yindumiso yakhe. Ubumhlophe bakhe busuke baba njengokukhanya.” “Uthi angema lishukum’ ihlabathi, azijonge zitsho zinkwantye izizwe. Iintaba zamandulo ziyaqhaqhamba; iinduli zakudala zona ziyatshona. Eweyindlela yakhe yasephakadeni,” [IBHAYIBHILE]. “Ukhwele emahasheni akho, ezinweleni zakho zokusindisa.” “Zikubonile, ziyankwantya iintaba, . . . Amanzi anzongonzongo akhuphaisandisawo,aziphakamisela phezuluizandla zawo. Latshona ilanga nenyanga ekhayeni lazo, ngokukhanya kweentolo zakho ezihambayo, ngobumhlophe bokubengezela kwezikhali zakho.” “Uphuma ukuba usindise abantu bakho, ukuba usindise umthanjiswa wakho.” Hab. 3:3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13. IE18 272.2
Wathi xa uMsindisi ekufuphi ukuba ahlukaniswe nabafundi baKhe, wabathuthuzela kusizi lwabo ngokubaqinisekisa ukuba uya kubuya kwakhona: “Intliziyo yenu mayingakhathazeki. . . . Endlwini kaBawo zininzi iindawo zokuhlala. . . . Ndiya kunilungiselela indawo; ukuba ke ndimkile ndaya kunilungiselela indawo, ndiya kubuya ndize, ndinamkelele kum ngokwam.” Yohane 14:1-3. “UNyana woMntu [uya kuza] esebuqaqawulini bakhe, enazo zonke izithunywa ezingcwele.” “Uya kuhlala phezu kwetrone yobuqaqawuli bakhe; zihlanganiswe phambi kwakhe zonke iintlanga.” Mateyu 25:31, 32. IE18 272.3
Iingelosi ezaziphaphazela phezu kwentaba yeMinquma emva kokunyuka kukaKristu zasiphinda isithembiso sokubuya kwaKhe: “Kwayena lo Yesu, unyusiweyo kuni wasiwa emazulwini, uya kuza kwangolu hlobo nimbone esiya ngalo ezulwini.” IZenzo 1:11. Yena umpostile uPawulos, ethetha ngoMoya weMpefumlelo, wangqina wathi: “INkosi ngokwayo iya kuhla emazulwini inendanduluko, inelizwi lesiphatha-zithunywa, inexilongo likaThixo.” 1 Tesalonika 4:16. Umprofeti wasePatimo uthi: “Yabonani, uza namafu; aye eya kumbona amehlo onke.” IsiTyhilelo 1:7. IE18 272.4
Ukuza kwaKhe kujikelezwebubuhle bokubuyiselwa kwezinto zonke, ngokwamazwi “awawathethayo uThixo ngomlomo wabo bonke abaprofeti bakhe abangcwele, kususela kunaphakade.” IZenzo 3:21. Ngelo xesha, ulawulo lobubi ekukade luqhuba luya kuphela; “izikumkani zehlabathi zithe zaba zezeNkosi yethu nezikaKristu wayo; wayeya kuba nguKumkani kuse emaphakadeni asemaphakadeni.” IsiTyhilelo 11:15. “[Buya kutyhileka] ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova, ibubone inyama yonke kunye.” “INkosi uYehova [iya] kuntshulisa ubulungisa nendumiso phambi kweentlanga zonke.” “Uya kuba sisithsaba esimakhazikhazi, nesangqawe sokuhomba kumasalela abantu bakhe.” Isaya 40:5; 61:11; Isaya 28:5. IE18 273.1
Ngelo xesha, ubukumkani bukaMesiya boxolo nobabukade bulangazelelwa, buya kumiselwa phantsi kwalo lonke izulu. “UYehova uyithuthuzele iZiyon, uwathuthuzele onke amanxuwa ayo, wayenza intlango yayo yanjenge-Eden, nenkqantosi yayo yanjengomyezo kaYehova.” “Inikwe ubuqaqawuli beLebhanon, ubungangamela beKarmele neSharon.” “akusayi kuba sathiwa kuwe unguSishiywa; nelizwe lakho akuyi kuba sathiwa kulo, Kusenkangala; ukubizwa kwakho kuya kuthiwa unguNdimnanzileyo, nelizwe lakho kuthiwe nguNokwenda. . . . Njengomyeni enemihlali ngomtshakazi, uThixo wakho uya kuba nemihlali ngawe.” Isaya 51:3; 35:2; 62:4, 5. IE18 273.2
Ukuza kweNkosi kube kulithemba labalandeli baYo abanyanisileyo kuwo onke amaphakade. Isithembiso sokuhamba koMsindisi phezu kwentaba yeMinquma, sokuba uza kuza kwakhona, salikhanyisa ikamva labafundi baKhe, sazizalisa iintliziyo zabo ngovuyo nethemba elalingenakuze licinywe ziintlungu okanye lidanjiswe zizilingo. Phakathi kokuphathwa kakubi nokutshutshiswa, “ukubonakala koThixo omkhulu noMsindisi wethu uYesu Kristu” kwaku“lithemba elinoyolo.” Xa amaKristu aseTesalonika ayezaliswe yintlungu xa ayengcwaba iintandane zawo, ezazithembe ukuba ziya kuphila ukuze zikubone ukufika kweNkosi, uPawulos, ititshala yawo, yawalathisa eluvukweni, oluza kwenzeka ekufikeni koMsindisi. Ngelo xesha abafele kuKristu baya kuvuka, baze bekunye nabaphilileyo baxhwilelwe ukuya kuhlangabeza iNkosi esibhakabhakeni. “Size ngokunjalo,” watsho, “sihlale sihleli, sindawonye neNkosi. Ngoko ke thuthuzelanani ngala mazwi.” 1 Tesalonika 4:16-18. IE18 273.3
KwiPatimo enamatye, umfundi oyintanda uva isithembiso, “Ewe, ndiyeza kamsinya,” ize impendulo yakhe enolangazelelo itsho umthandazo webandla lako konke ukuphambukela kwalo, “Ewe, yiza, Nkosi Yesu.” IsiTyhilelo 22:20. IE18 273.4
Ukusuka kwizisele zangaphantsi komhlaba, kwimililo, namanqwanqwa, apho abangcwele nabafelukholo bangqina khona ngenyaniso, kuphume kwiinkulungwane iintetho zokholo nethemba. “Beqinisekiswe ngovuko lwaKhe ngokwaKhe, nokusiphumo sako ikokwabo ekufikeni kwaKhe, ngenxa yalo msebenzi,” wathi omnye wala maKristu, “bakudela ukufa, baza bafunyanwa bengaphezu kwako.”--Daniel T. Taylor, The Reign of Christ on Earth: or, The Voice of the Church in All Ages, page 33. Babe nentumekelelo yokuhla baye engcwabeni, ukuze bakwazi “ukuvuka bekhululekile.”-- Daniel T. Taylor, page 54. Babelindele “iNkosi eza kuhla ivela ezulwini ngamafu isebuqaqawuli boYise,” “izisa kumalungisa amaxesha obukumkani.” AmaWaldensi ayenalo olo kholo lunye.”-- Daniel T. Taylor, pages 129-132. UWycliffe wayekulindele ukufika koMhlanguli okwakulithemba lebandla.-- Daniel T. Taylor, pages 132-134. IE18 274.1
ULutere wathi: “Ndiyazixelela ngokwenene, ukuba imini yomgwebo ayisayi kungafiki kude kuphele iminyaka engamakhulu amathathu. UThixo akasayi, akangeke, awunyamezele lo mhlaba ukhohlakeleyo ixesha elide ukususela ngoku.” “Imini enkulu iyasondela ekuya kuthi ngayo ubukumkani bamasikizi boyiswe.” -- Daniel T. Taylor D, pages 158, 134. IE18 274.2
“Lo mhlaba ugugileyo awukude kwisiphelo sawo,” watsho uMelanchthon. UCalvin uyalela amaKristu ukuba “angalibazisi, mawayilangazelele ngenzondelelo imini yokuza kukaKristu, njengoko, kuzo zonke iziganeko, iyeyona inika ithemba;” abuye athi, “lonke usapho lwabathembekileyo luya kuyigcina isezingqondweni loo mini.” “Kufuneka silambele uKristu, kufuneka sifune, sicamngce,” uthi, “kude kuthi qheke ukusa kwaloo mini inkulu, xa iNkosi yethu iya kubutyhila ngokuzeleyo ubuqaqawuli bobukumkani baYo.”-- Daniel T. Taylor, pages 158, 134. IE18 274.3
INkosi uYesu ayinyukanga nenyama yethu na ukuya ezulwini?’” watsho uKnox, umHlaziyi waseScotland,” “ingaba ayizi kubuya na? Siyazi ukuba iza kubuya, nako oko ngokukhawuleza.” URidley noLatimer, abancama ubomi babo ngenxa yenyaniso, babelinde ngokholo ukuza kweNkosi. URidley wabhala, wathi: “Ihlabathi, ngaphandle kwentandabuzo—ndiyayikholelwa le nto, ngenxa yoko ndiyayitsho—lisondela esiphelweni. Masithi, kunye noYohane, umkhonzi kaThixo, sikhale ezintliziyweni zethu kuMsindisi wethu uKristu, sithi: “Yiza, Nkosi Yesu, yiza.”-- Daniel T. Taylor, pages 151, 145. IE18 274.4
Iingcinga zokuza kweNkosi,” wathi uBaxter, “zimnandi kakhulu kwaye ziyonwabisa kum.”--Richard Baxter, Works, vol. 17, p. 555. “Ngumsebenzi wokholo nesimilo sabangcwele baKhe ukuthanda ukubonakala nokulindela elo themba linoyolo.” “Ukuba ukufa kulutshaba lokugqibela ukutshatyalaliswa eluvukweni, sinokufunda ngokuzimisela indlelaamakholwa ameleukulangazelela nokuthandazela ukuza kwesibini kukaKristu, xa olu loyiso lupheleleyo nolokugqibela luya kwenziwa.”-- Richard Baxter, vol. 17, p. 500. “Yimini le onke amakholwa afanele ukuyilangazelela, athembe, ayilindele, njengokufezwa komsebenzi wohlangulo, nayo yonke iminqweno nemizamo yemiphefumlo yawo.” “Yikhawulezise, Nkosi, le mini inoyolo!”-- Richard Baxter, vol. 17, pp. 182, 183. Lalinjalo ithemba lebandla labapostile, “lebandla lasentlango,” nelabaHlaziyi. IE18 274.5
Isiprofeto asaneli ukuxela kwangaphambili uhlobo nenjongo yokuza kukaKristu, kodwa sinika imiqondiso abaya kuthi ngayo abantu bazi xa kukufuphi. UYesu wathi: “Kuya kubakho imiqondiso elangeni nasenyangeni nasezinkwenkwezini.” Luka 21:25. “Liya kusuka ilanga lenziwe mnyama, ithi nenyanga ingabukhuphi ubumhlophe bayo; zithi neenkwenkwezi zezulu zivuthuluke; athi namandla asemazulwini azanyazanyiswe. Baya kumbona ke ngelo xesha uNyana woMntu esiza esemafini, enamandla amakhulu nobuqaqawuli.” Marko 13:24-26. Umtyhilelwa ngoko uchaza owokuqala wemiqondiso eza kukhokela ukufika kwesibini: “[Kwabakho] unyikimo lomhlaba olukhulu, lathi ilanga laba mnyama, njengengubo erhwexayo yoboya; yathi inyanga yaba njengegazi.” IsiTyhilelo 6:12, (13). IE18 275.1
Le miqondiso yabonwa phambi kokuba kuqale inkulungwane yeshumi elinethoba. Ekuzalisekeni kwesi siprofeto kwenzeka, ngowe 1755, eyona yaka yoyikeka inyikima eyaka yabakho. Nangona isaziwa ngokuthi yinyikima yaseLisbon, yanabela kwindawo enkulu yaseYurophu, eAfrika, naseMelika. Yavakala eGreenland, eWest Indies, kwisiqithi saseMadeira, eNorway naseSweden, eGreat Britain naseIreland. Yatyhutyha umgama ongekho ngaphantsi kwezigidi ezine zezikwere zeemayile. EAfrika, ukunyikima kwakuphantsa ukuba kukhulu njengaseYurophu. Indawo enkulu yaseAlgiers yatshabalala; kwathi kufuphi eMorocco, ilali enabemi abakwisibhozo neshumi lamawaka baginywa. Iliza elibanzi latshayela phezu konxweme lweSpain neAfrika lifaka phakathi izixeko lisenza intshabalalo enkulu. IE18 275.2
KwakuseSpain nasePortugal apho ukushukuma kwenza umonakalo omkhulu. ECadiz, iliza elingenayo kuthiwa lalineenyawo ezingamashumi amathandathu ukuphakama. Iintaba, “ezinye zezona zinkulu ePortugal, zashukunyiswa ngamandlaamakhulu,ngokungathi, ziqalele kwiziseko zazo, ezinye zazo zavuleka ezincochoyini, ezaya zacandeka zakrazuka ngendlela emangalisayo, iindawo ezinkulu kuzo zawa phantsi kwiintili ezayame kuzo. Amalangatye achazwa ngokuthi abakho ephuma kwezi ntaba.”-- Sir Charles Lyell, Principles of Geology, page 495. IE18 275.3
ELisbon “isandi sendudumo savakala ngaphantsi komhlaba, kwathi kamsinya emva koko ukunyikima okukhulu kwawisa phantsi indawo enkulu yeso sixeko. Kwathi ngemizuzu emithandathu, amawaka angamashumi amathandathu abantu batshabalala. Ulwandle lwaqala ngokubuya umva, lwashiya umda wentlabathi womile; lwaphinda lwabuya, lwanyuka amashumi amahlanu eenyawo okanye ngaphezulu komda wesiqhelo.” “Phakathi kwezinye iziganeko ezingaqhelekanga ezihambelana nokwenzeka eLisbon ngexesha lentlekele, yaba kukutshona kwechweba elitsha, elalakhiwe ngebhastile lonke, ngexabiso elikhulu kakhulu. Umkhosi omkhulu wabantu babehlangene apho beyokufuna inkuseleko, njengendawo ababe nokuba ngaphaya kokufikelelwa ziindonga eziwayo; kodwa kwathi ngequbuliso ichweba latshona nabo bonke abo bantu babe kulo, akwabakho nesinye isidumbu esadada phezulu kwamanzi.”-- Sir Charles Lyell, page 495. IE18 276.1
“Ulwandile” lwenyikima “lwalandelwa kwangoko kukuwa kwazo zonke iinkonzo namakhaya oonongendi, phantse zonke izakhiwo ezikhulu zabantu, nangaphezu kwenxenye yesine yezindlu. Kwisithuba seeyure ezine emva kwesithonga, kwakho imililo kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo, wavutha ngamandla amakhulu isithuba seentsuku ezintathu, wasibhodloza sonke isixeko. Inyikima yenzeka ngemini engcwele xa iinkonzo namakhaya oonongenzi ayezele ngabantu, ababambalwa kakhulu kubo abasindayo.”-- Encyclopedia Americana, art. “Lisbon,” note (ed. 1831). “Uloyiko lwabantu lwaba ngaphaya kokuba lungachazwa. Akukho mntu walilayo; kwakungaphaya kweenyembezi. Kwakubalekwa kuhliwa kunyukwa, bephambene kukothuka nokukhwankqiswa, bezibetha ebusweni bezingomba izifuba, bekhala, ‘Misericordia! [Yiba nenceba!] Umhlaba ufike ekupheleni!‘ Oomama babalibala abantwana babo, babaleka bejikeleza bethwele imifanekiso eqingqiweyo eseminqamlezweni. Ngelishwa, abaninzi babalekela ezinkonzweni befuna inkuseleko; kwaba lilize ukutyhilwa komthendeleko; kwaba lilize ukubambelela kwezi ntsizi zabantu ezibingelelweni; imifanekiso, ababingeleli, nabantu babengcwatywe kwinxuwa elinye ngokufanayo.” Kuqikelelwa ukuba bakumawaka angamashumi alithoba abantu abalahlekana nobomi babo ngaloo mini yembubho. IE18 276.2
Kwiminyaka engamashumi amabini anesihlanu emva koko, kwabonakala omnye umqondiso oxelwe esiprofetweni—ukuba mnyama kwelanga nenyanga. Into eyenza ukuba oku kucace kakhulu yile yokuba, ixesha lokuzaliseka kwayo lalixelwe ngokucacileyo. Kwincoko yoMsindisi nabafundi baKhe phezu kwentaba yeMinquma, emva kokuchaza ixesha elide lokulingwa kwebandla,--i-1260 leminyaka yokutshutshisa kobupopi, wathembisa ukuba imbandezelo iya kwenziwa ibe mfutshane,--waza ngoko wakhankanya iziganeko ezithile ezaziza kuza phambi kokuza kwaKhe, wamisa ixesha xa esokuqala kwezi siya kubonakala: “Ngaloo mihla, emveni kwayo loo mbandezelo, liya kusuka ilanga lenziwe mnyama, ithi nenyanga ingabukhuphi ubumhlophe bayo.” Marko 13:24. I-1260 leentsuku, okanye leminyaka, laphela ngowe-1798. Ngekota yenkulungwane ngaphambili, intshutshiso yayiphantse yaphela yonke. Emva kwale ntshutshiso, ngokwamazwi kaKristu, ilanga laliza kwenziwa mnyama. Ngomhla we-19 kaMeyi, 1780, esi siprofeto sazaliseka. IE18 277.1
“Phantse, ukuba kwakungekuphela kwawo, njengomhla wesona siganeko simangalisayo nesingekabi nakuchazwa esaka senzeka esifana naso, umi umhla omnyama kaMeyi 19, 1780,--ubumnyama obungenako ukuchazwa kuwo onke amazulu abonakalayo nesibhakabhaka saseNew England.”--R. M. Devens, Our First Century, page 89. IE18 277.2
Owayehlala eMassachusetts wasibona esi siganeko, usichaza ngolu hlobo: ‘Kusasa, ilanga laphuma lilihle, kodwa kwakhawuleza kwasibekela. Amafu athanda ukurhuqa, kwathi kuwo, emnyama ngokoyikisayo, njengoko akhawuleza anjalo, kwadanyaza imibane, lazongoma izulu, kwakho umkhumezelo. Kwathi kusiya kwintsimbi yesithoba, amafu aya encipha, abonakala ebufana nobhedu okanye ikopolo ngembonakalo, waza umhlaba, amatye, imithi, izakhiwo, amanzi, nabantu baguqulwa koku kukhanya kungaqhelekanga. Kwimizuzu embalwa emva koko, ilifu elingqingqwa lasigubungela sonke isibhakabhaka ngaphandle kongqameko olungebanzi ekuhlanganeni kwesibhakabhaka nomhlaba, kwaza kwaba mnyama njengoko kuye kube njalo ngentsimbi yesithoba ngorhatya lwasehlotyeni. . . . IE18 277.3
Uloyiko, ixhala, nokunkwantya kwaya kuzizalisa iingqondo zabantu. Abafazi bema emnyango, bekhangele umhlaba omnyama; amadoda abuya emsebenzini wawo wasemasimini; abachweli bazishiya izixhobo zabo, umkhandi weentsimbi [wakuyeka] ukukhanda kwakhe, othengisayo [wayishiya] itafile yakhe. Izikolo zaphuma, bathi abantwana bengcangcazela, babalekela kumakwabo. Abahambi bamisa kuzindlu zeefama ezikufutshane. ‘Kuza ntoni?’ umbuzo owawukuyo yonke imilebe neentliziyo. Kwakubonakala ngokungathi kuza kudlula inkanyamba yesaqhwithi phezu komhlaba, okanye, ngathi kufike imini yokuphela kwazo zonke izinto. IE18 277.4
“Kwasetyenziswa amakhandlela; amaziko emililo akhanya ngokokukhanya kobusuku obungenanyanga bexesha lasekwindla. . . . Iinkuku zabuyela kwiindawo zazo zaya kulala, iinkomo zabuyela kwiindawo ezivalelwa kuzo emadlelweni zabhonga, amasele akhala, iintaka zavuma iingoma zazo zangorhatya, amalulwane aphaphazela ejikeleza. Kanti ke kunjalo, umntu wazi yena ukuba kwakungafikanga busuku. . . . IE18 278.1
“UDr. Nathanael Whittaker, umfundisi webandla iTabernacle eSalem, wabamba iinkonzo kwindlu yokuhlangana, washumayela intshumayelo awathi kuyo waxela ukuba obo bumnyama babungaphaya kwendalo. Iirhamente zahlangana nakwezinye iindawo ezininzi. Iindima zeentshumayelo ezazivelelayo zazizezo zazibonakala zibonisa ukuba ubumnyama babuhambelana nesiprofeto seBhayibhile. . . . Ubumnyama babungqingqwa kakhulu emva kwentsimbi yeshumi elinanye.”--The Essex Antiquarian, April, 1899, vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 53, 54. “Kwiindawo ezininzi zelizwe, kwakukukhulu ngexesha lasemini, bada abantu abakwazi ukuxela ukuba kuxa liphi ngewotshi okanye ngewotshi enkulu okanye ngexesha lokutya, bengakwazi ukuqhubeka nemisebenzi yasekhaya, ngaphandle kokukhanya kwamakhandlela. . . . IE18 278.2
Ububanzi bobu bumnyama baba bukhulu. Babonwa nakwimpuma ekude, eFalmouth. Ukuya entshona, bafikelela kweyona ndawo ikude yaseConnecticut, naseAlbany. Ngasezantsi, babonwa kumanxweme olwandle; nangasentla, apho kuphela khona iindawo ezimiweyo zaseMelika.”--William Gordon, History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the Independence of the U.S.A., vol. 3, p. 57. IE18 278.3
Ubumnyama obungqingqwa bemini balandelwa, kwiyure okanye ezimbini phambi korhatya, kukutyhileka kancinane kwesibhakabhaka, laza ilanga lavela, nangona lalisasithwe yinkungu emnyamaenzima. “Emva kokutshona kwelanga, amafu aphinda abuya phezulu, kwaza kwaba mnyama ngokukhawuleza okukhulu.” “Kanti ke, ubumnyama bobusuku babungeyonto ingaqhelekanga njengobo bemini; nangona kwakuphantse ukubakho inyanga ezeleyo, akukho nto yayibonakala kakuhle kungekho ukukhanya okwenziwe ngumntu, okwakusithi, xa kubonwa kwizindlu zasebumelwaneni nakwezinye indawo ezithe qelele, kubengathi luhlobo lobumnyama baseYiputa okwakungathi abunako ukugqojozwa yimitha [yelanga].”--Isaiah Thomas, Massachusetts Spy; or, American Oracle of Liberty, vol. 10, No. 472 (May 25, 1780). Wathi owawubonayo lo mbono: “Andizange ndingakwazi ukucinga ngelo xesha ukuthi, nokuba zonke izikhanyiso kwindalo yonke [yunivesi] zazigqunywe zizithunzi ezingenako ukugqojozwa, okanye zibethwe azabikho, ubumnyama babungayi kobo [babukho ngaloo mini].”--Letter by Dr. Samuel Tenney, of Exeter, New Hampshire, December, 1785 (in Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, 1792, 1st series, vol. 1, p. 97). Nangona ngentsimbi yesithoba ngobo busuku inyanga yaphuma yaphelela, “yayingenalo nelincinane igalelo ekugxotheni amathunzi afana nokufa.” Emva kwenzulu yobusuku ubumnyama bathi shwaka, yathi inyanga ukuqala kwayo ukubonakala, yanenkangeleko efana negazi. IE18 278.4
UMeyi 19, 1780, umi kwimbali uyi“IMini eMnyama.” Ukususela kwixesha likaMoses, alikho ixesha lobumnyama elifana nalo ngobungqingqwa, ububanzi, nobude bexesha, elaka labhalwa. Inkcazo yesi siganeko, njengoko inikwe ngabasibonayo, ikukuphindwa kwamazwi eNkosi, awabhalwa ngumprofeti uYoweli, kumakhulu angamashumi ababini anesihlanu eminyaka ngaphambi kokuba sizaliseke: “Ilanga liya kusuka libe mnyama, nenyanga ibe ligazi, phambi kokuba ifike imini kaYehova, leyo inkulu yoyikekayo.” Yoweli 2:31. IE18 279.1
UKristu wabayalela abantu baKhe ukuba baqaphele imiqondiso yokufika koKumkani wabo. “Zakubon’ ukuba ezi zinto ziyaqala ukuhla, sukani nime, niziphakamise iintloko zenu, ngenxa yokuba iyasondela inkululeko yenu.” Wabalathisa abalandeli bakhe kwimithi enamathupha yasekwindla, wathi: “Xa iselithe yavelisa amagqabi, niyabona nazi ngokwenu ukuba ihloboselikufuphi. Kwangokunjalonani, xa nithe nazibonaezi zinto zisihla, yazini ukuba bukufuphi ubukumkani bukaThixo.” Luka 21:28, 30, 31. IE18 279.2
Kuya kuthi ngexesha umoya wokuthobeka nokuzinikela ebandleni kunika indawo ikratshi nesiqhelo, ukuthanda uKristu nokholo ekuzeni kwaKhe kuye kubanda. Ngokumilisela iingqondo ekuthandeni ihlabathi nokufuna iziyolo, abantu abazibiza ngoThixo bamfamekiswa kwimiyalelo yoMsindisi ngokubhekiselele kwimiqondiso yokubonakala kwaKhe. Imfundiso yokubuya kwesibini yatyeshelwa; iziBhalo ezibhekise kuyo zasithwa ngengcaciso egwenxa, yada yangahoywa yalityalwa, kakhulu. Ngendlela eyodwa, yaba njalo le meko kumabandla aseMelika. Inkululeko nokonwaba okonwatyelwe zizo zonke iindidi zasekuhlaleni, ukunqwenelwa okunamabhongo kobutyebi nobuyokoyoko, okuzala ukuzinikela okunzulu ekwenzeni imali, ukungxamela kakhulu ukubaluleka namandla, okwakungathi kungafikelelwa ngabo bonke, kwabenza abantu ukuba bawumilisele umdla wabo namathemba abo kwizinto zobu bomi, nokuyityhalela kude kwixesha elizayo loo mini inendili xa ukuhamba kwezinto kweli xesha kuya kudlula. IE18 279.3
Xa uMsindisi wayesalathisa abalandeli baKhe kwimiqondiso yokubuya kwaKhe, wayixela kwangoko imeko yokuhlehla okuya kubakho kanye phambi kokubuya kwaKhe kwesibini. Kuya kubakho, njengemihla kaNowa, ukusebenza nokuxakeka yimicimbi yehlabathi—kuthengwa, kuthengiswa, kutyalwa, kusakhiwa, kutshatwa, kusendiswa—nokulityalwa kukaThixo nobomi bexesha elizayo. Kwabo baya kuba bephila ngeli xesha, isilumkiso sikaKristu sithi: “Zilumkeleni ke, hleze zisindwe iintliziyo zenu kukuzingxala, nakukunxila, nangamaxhala obu bomi, ize loo mini inifikele ngebhaqo.” “Phaphani ngoko, amaxesha onke nikhunga, ukuze kuthiwe nikufanele ukuzisaba zonke ezo izinto ziza kuhla, nokumiswa phambi koNyana woMntu.” Luka 21:34, 36. IE18 280.1
Imeko yebandla ngeli xesha ibonisiwe emazwini oMsindisi kwisiTyhilelo: “Unalo igama lokuba uphilile, ukanti ufile.” Kwabo balayo ukuvuka kwinkuseleko yabo engenankathalo, isilumkiso esinendili sinikiwe: “Ukuba ngoko akuthanga ulinde, ndokufikela njengesela; akusayi kulazi ilixa endokufikela ngalo.” IsiTyhilelo 3:1, 3. IE18 280.2
Kwakudingeka ukuba abantu bavuswe kwingozi abakuyo; ukuba bavuselwe ukuba balungiselele iziganeko ezoyikekayo ezihlangene nokuvalwa kwenceba. Umprofeti kaThixo uthi: “Inkulu imin kaYehova, yoyikeka kunene; ngubani na onokuyinyamezela?” Ngubani oya kuma xa evela Lowo “ungomehlo ahlambulukileyo, ukuba angayikhangeli into embi,” nongenako “ukondela okubi”? Yoweli 2:11; Habhakuki 1:13. Kwabo bakhalayo, besithi, “Thixo wam, siyakwazi,” ukanti bawugqithile umnqophiso waKhe, baleqeka emva komnye uthixo, befihle ubugwenxa ezintliziyweni zabo, bethanda iindlela zokungalungisi—kwabo imini kaYehova “ibubumnyama, . . . ingabi nakukhanya, [ibe] sisithokothoko, . . . ingabi nabumhlophe.” Hoseya 8:2, 1; Ndumiso 16:4; Amos 5:20. “Kuya kuthi ngelo xesha,” utsho uYehova, “ndiyigquthagquthe iYerusalem ndinezibane, ndiwavelele amadoda agovalele ezintsipheni zawo; atshoyo ukuthi ezintliziyweni zawo, UYehova akenzi kulungileyo, akenzi nakubi.” Zefaniya 1:12. “Ndolivelela elimiweyo ngenxa yobubi balo, nabangendawo ngenxa yobugwenxa babo, ndiliphelise ikratshi labakhukhumeleyo, ndilithobele phantsi ikratshi labangcangcazelisi.” Isaya 13:11. “Nesilivere yabo negolide yabo ayisayi kuba nako ukubahlangula;” “ubutyebi bawo buya kudywidwa, nezindlu zawo zibe ngamanxuwa.” 1:18, 13. IE18 280.3
Umprofeti uYeremiya, ekhangele phambili, wadanduluka, wathi: “Ndiyazibhijabhija iingontsi zentliziyo yam! . . . andinakuthi tu! Kuba usivile isandi sesigodlo, mphefumlo wam, ukuhlatywa komkhosi wemfazwe. Kumenyezwa intshabalalo, ngokuba libhuqiwe lonke ilizwe.” Yeremiya 4:19, 20. IE18 281.1
“Loo mini yimini yokuphuphuma komsindo, yimini yembandezelo nocutheko, yimini yentshabalala yakwantshabalala, yimini yobumnyamanesithokothoko,yimini yamafu,namafuamnyama,yiminiyesigodlo nokuhlaba umkhosi.” Zefaniya 1:15, 16. “Yabona, imini kaYehova iyeza, . . . ukuba ilenza libe senkangala ilizwe, ibatshabalalise aboni balo kulo.” Isaya 13:9. IE18 281.2
Ngokubhekiselele kuloo mini, ilizwi likaThixo, ngeyona ntetho inendili nechukumisayo, libiza abantu baKhe ukuba bavuke kubuthongo babo basemoyeni bafune ubuso baKhe benenguquko nokuthobeka: “Vuthelani isigodlo eZiyon, nihlabe umkhosi entabeni yam engwcele. Mabagungqe bonke abemi belizwe, ngokuba isiza imini kaYehova, kuba isondele.” “Ngcwalisani uzilo, memani ingqungquthela. Hlanganisani abantu, ngcwalisani ibandla, buthani amadoda amakhulu, hlanganisani iintsapho, . . . makaphume umyeni egumbini lakhe, umtshakazi esililini sakhe. Mabalile, abalungiseleli bakaYehova, phakathi kweveranda nesibingelelo.” “Buyelani kum ngentliziyo yenu yonke, nangokuzila, nangokulila, nangokumbambazela; nikrazule intliziyo yenu, ingabi ziingubo zenu, nibuyele kuYehova uThixo wenu; kuba unobabalo nemfesane, yena uzeka kade umsindo, unenceba enkulu, uyazohlwaya ngenxa yobubi.” Yoweli 2:1, 15-17, 12, 13. IE18 281.3
Ukulungisa abantu ukuba beme ngemini kaThixo, umsebenzi omkhulu wohlaziyo kwakufuneka ufeziwe. UThixo wabona ukuba abaninzi kubantu abazibiza ngokuba bangabantu baKhe babengakheli unaphakade, waye, ngenceba yaKhe, eza kuthumela isigidimi sokulumkisa ukubavusa kubuthongo babo abenze ukuba balungele ukuza kweNkosi. IE18 281.4
Isilumkiso sivezwa kwisiTyhilelo 14. Esi sisigidimi esintlantlu-ntathu esibekwa njengesivakaliswa zizidalwa zasezulwini zize zikhawuleze zilandelwe kukuza koNyana woMntu ukuza kuvuna “isivuno somhlaba.” Esokuqala kwezi zilumkiso sivakalisa ukufika komgwebo. Umprofeti wabona isithunywa “siphaphazela esazulwini samazulu, sineendaba ezilungileyo ezingunaphakade, ukuba sizishumayele kwabo bemiyo phezu komhlaba, nakwiintlanga zonke, nezizwe, neelwimi, nabantu; sisithi ngezwi elikhulu, Moyikeni uThixo, nimzukise; ngokuba lifikile ixa lokugweba kwakhe; nimnqule lowo wenza izulu, nomhlaba, nolwandle, nemithombo yamanzi.” IsiTyhilelo 14:6, 7. IE18 281.5
Esi sigidimi kuthiwa siyinxenye “yeendaba ezilungileyo ezingunaphakade.” Umsebenzi wokushumayela igospile awunikelwanga kwiingelosi, kodwa unikwe abantu. Iingelosi ezingcwele ziye zasetyenziswa ekukhokeleni lo msebenzi, zijongene neentshukumo ezinkulu zokusindiswa kwabantu; kodwa kona ukuvakaliswa kwegospile kwenziwa ngabakhonzi bakaKristu phezu komhlaba. IE18 282.1
Abantu abathembekileyo, ababekuthobela ukusebenza kukaMoya kaThixo neemfundiso zelizwi laKhe, babeza kusivakalisa esi silumkiso emhlabeni. Yayingabo balithobelayo “ilizwi eliqinisekileyo elilelobuprofeti,” “isibane esikhanyisa endaweni emnyama, kude kuse, liphume ikhwezi.” 2 Peter 1:19. Babefuna ulwazi ngoThixo ngaphezu kwazo zonke iindyebo ezifihliweyo, belubalela ukuba “lulungile . . . ngaphezu korhwebo lwesilivere, nongeniselo lwabo ngaphezu kwegolide embiweyo.” IMizekeliso 3:14. UYehova wazityhila kubo izinto ezinkulu zobukumkani. “Ukucweya kukaYehova kunabamoyikayo; ubazisa umnqophiso wakhe.” INdumiso 25:14. IE18 282.2
Yayingezizo izifundiswa ngokwazi uThixo ezaziyiqonda le nyaniso, zaza zaxakeka kukuyivakalisa. Ukuba aba babengabalindi abathembekileyo, beziphengulula ngenkuthalo nokuthandaza iziBhalo, ngebalazi ixesha lobusuku; iziprofeto zaziya kubatyhilela iziganeko ezaziza kwenzeka. Bona abazanga bawuthabatha lo msebenzi, saza isigidimi sanikwa abantu abathobekileyo kunabo. Wayethe uYesu: “Hambani, nisenalo nje ukhanyiso, ukuze ubumnyama bunganiqubuli.” Yohane 12:35. Abo bemkayo ekukhanyeni uThixo akunikileyo, okanye abakutyeshelayo ukukufuna kusafumaneka, bayayekwa bahlale ebumnyameni. Yena uMsindisi uthi: “Lowo undilandelayo akasayi kuhamba ebumnyameni; yena uya kuba nalo ukhanyiso lobomi.” Yohane 8:12. Nabani onenjongo ezinzileyo ozama ukwenza intando kaThixo, ekuthobela ngenzondelelo ukukhanya ekusele kunikiwe, uya kuzuza ukukhanya okungaphezulu; kuloo mphefumlo inkwenkwezi yokukhanya kwasezulwini iya kuthunyelwa ukuba imkhokelele kuyo yonke inyaniso. IE18 282.3
Ngexesha lokufika kukaKristu kokuqala, ababingeleli nababhali, boMzi Ongcwele, ekwakunikelwe kubo imithetho kaThixo, ngebayiqonda imiqondiso yamaxesha akuvakalisa ukuza kwaLowo wesiThembiso. Isiprofeto sikaMika sayixela indawo yokuzalelwa; uDaniyeli walixela ngqo ixesha lokufika kwaKhe. Mika 5:2; Daniyeli 9:25. UThixo wazinikela ezi ziprofeto kwiinkokeli zakwaYuda; zazingenaso isizathu xa zazingazi, nokuba zivakalise ebantwini ukuba ukuza kukaMesiya kusondele. Ukungazi kwazo kwakusisiphumo sokutyeshela okusisono. AmaYuda ayesakha izikhumbuzo zabaprofeti bakaThixo ababulawayo, lo gama ngokunika kwazo imbeko amadoda amakhulu omhlaba ayenika imbeko kubakhonzi bakaSathana. Athi ngokuzinza nzulu kwidabi lawo lamabhongo ngendawo negunya phakathi kwabantu, alahlekwa ngumbono wokuzukiswa lizulu awayekunikwa nguKumkani wezulu. IE18 282.4
Ngomdla omkhulu nentlonelo enkulu, amadoda amakhulu akwaIsrayeli ayemele ukuba ayefundile ngendawo,ixesha, neemeko, zesiganeko esisesona sikhulu kwimbali yomhlaba—ukuza koNyana kaThixo ukuza kufeza ukuhlangulwa komntu. Bonke abantu babemele ukuba bakukhangele bekulindele ukuba bangaphakathi kwabokuqala ukwamkela uMhlanguli womhlaba. Sekunjalo, khangela, kukho eBhetelehem abahambi ababini abadiniweyo besuka kwiinduli zaseNazarete becanda umgama omde wesitrato esicuthekileyo besiya kwimpuma esekupheleni kwedolophu, beyifuna bengayifumani indawo yokuphumla nokukhuseleka kobusuku. Akuvulwa zingcango ukuba bamkelwe. Kwixhobongwana elalilungiselwe iinkomo, ekugqibeleni, bafumana indawo yokuphephela, kwaba lapho uMsindisi wehlabathi wazalelwa khona. IE18 283.1
Iingelosi zasezulwini zazibubonile ubuqaqawuli awayenabo uNyana kaThixo ekunye noYise ngaphambi kokuba kubekho umhlaba, zaza zakulindela ngomdla omkhulu ukufika kwaKhe emhlabeni njengesiganeko esizele luvuyo olukhulu kubo bonke abantu. UKristu wayethobe ukuba athabathele kuYe indalo yomntu; wayeza kuthwala ubunzima bentlungu obungenako ukulinganiswa njengoko wayeza kuwenza umphefumlo waKhe ube lidini lesono; kanti ke iingelosi zazilangazelela ukuba nasekuthobekeni kwakhe uNyana wOsenyangweni angavela phambi kwabantu ngesidima nozuko olufanelene nesimilo saKhe. Ingaba amadoda amakhulu asemhlabeni angahlanganisana kwisixeko esiyintloko sakwaIsrayeli ukuza kumamkela ukufika kwaKhe? Ingaba imikhosi yeengelosi ingamazisa kwiqela elimlindeleyo? IE18 283.2
Ingelosi ihambele emhlabeni ukuza kubona ukuba ngobani abalungele ukwamkela uYesu. Phofu ayiboni miqondiso yakulindela. Ayiva lizwi lendumiso noloyiso elixela ukuba ixesha lokuza kukaMesiya lisondele. Ingelosi indanda okwexesha phezu kwesixeko esinyuliweyo netempile apho ubukho obungcwele babuye bubonakalaliswe khona kwizizukulwana; kodwa nalapha kukho ukungakhathali okufanayo. Ababingeleli, kubuyokoyoko bekratshi labo, banikela iminikelo edyobhekileyo etempileni. AbaFarisi, ngamazwi aphezulu, bathetha nabantu okanye benza imithandazo yokuzigwagwisa ezimbombeni zezitrato. Kumabhotwe ookumkani, kwimihlangano yeenkcuba-buchopho, ezikolweni zoorabhi, bonke ngokufanayo abayinakanga inyaniso emangalisayo ezalise lonke izulu ngovuyo nendumiso--le yokuba uMhlanguli wabantu uza kufika emhlabeni. IE18 283.3
Akukho nto ibonakalayo ethi uKristu wayelindelwe, kungekho nalulungiselelo lweNkosi yobomi. Ekhwankqisiwe, umthunywa wasezulwini ebesele eza kubuyela ezulwini eneendaba ezenza iintloni, ukufumana kwkhe iqela labelusi ababejonge imihlambi yabo ngobusuku, baza bathi, bakuba beqwalasele amazulu azele ziinkwenkwezi, bacamngca ngeziprofeto ezingoMesiya oza kuza emhlabeni, bakulangazelela ukufika koMhlawuleli womhlaba. Eli liqela elikulungeleyo ukwamkela isigidimi sezulu. Kwathi ngequbuliso ingelosi yeNkosi yavela, ivakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo zovuyo olukhulu. Uzuko lwezulu lwazalisa ithafa, umkhosi ongenakubalwa weengelosi wabonakala, kwaba ngathi uvuyo lwalulukhulu kakhulu ukuba luziswe ngumthunywa omnye ovela ezulwini, ihlokondiba lamazwi atsho ngengoma eya kuvunywa zizo zonke iintlanga ezisindisiweyo ngenye imini: “Uzuko kuThixo enyangweni, uxolo emhlabeni, inkolelo ebantwini.” Luka 2:14. IE18 284.1
Yek’ ubuhle besi sifundo, sileli bali limangalisayo laseBhetelehem! Indlela elikuthethisa ngayo ukuba nekratshi nokwaneliseka kwethu. Indlela elisilumkisa ngayo ukuba silumke, hleze ukungakhathali kwethu ngokwaphula umthetho, side sisilele nokubona imiqondiso yamaxesha, sithi ngoko, singazi nomhla wokuhanjelwa kwethu. IE18 284.2
Kwakungaphelelanga kwiinduli zakwaYuda, kungekuko kubalusi abathobekileyo kuphela, apho iingelosi zafumana kukho abalindele ukuza kukaMesiya. Kummandla wabahedeni babekho abo babemlindele; babe ngamadoda azizilumko, izityebi, nabekekileyo, iinzululwazi zaseMpuma. Abafundi bendalo, iZazi, zambona uThixo emsebenzini wezandla zaKhe. KwiziBhalo zesiHebhere zazifundile ngenkwenkwezi eyayiza kunyuka iphuma kwaYakobi, zaza ngolangazelelo olunenzondelelo, zakulindela ukuza kwaKhe, owayengayi kuba “yiNtuthuzelo kaIsrayeli” kuphela, kodwa “isikhanyiso sokutyhilela iintlanga,” nokuze “ube ngowosindiso, kude kuse ekupheleni kwehlabathi.” Luka 2:25, 32; IZenzo 13:47. Babe ngabazingeli bokukhanya, kwaza ukukhanya okuvela etroneni kaThixo kwayikhanyisa indlela yeenyawo zabo. Ngeli xesha ababingeleli noorabhi baseYerusalem, abagcini abanyuliweyo nabachazi benyaniso, babegutyungelwe bubumnyama, inkwenkwezi ethunyelwe lizulu yazikhokela ezi Ntlanga zasemzini ukuzisa kwindawo olwazalelwa kuyo usana olunguKumkani. IE18 284.3
Kukwabo “bamlindeleyo” aya kuthi uKristu “okwesibini, ngaphandle kwesono, abonakale . . . ezisa usindiso.” Hebhere 9:28. Njengeendaba zokuzalwa koMsindisi, isigidimi sokufika kwesibini asizange sinikelwe kwiinkokeli zabantu zenkolo. Zasilela ukulugcina uqhagamshelwano noThixo, zakwala ukukhanya okuvela ezulwini; ngoko ke, zazingabalwa kwiqela elichazwa ngumpostile uPawulos, xa athi: “Ke nina, bazalwana, anisebumnyameni, ukuba imini leyo iniqubule njengesela. Nonke nina ningabokukhanya, abemini; asingabobusuku, asingabobumnyama.” 1 Tesalonika 5:4, 5. IE18 285.1
Abalindi phezu kwendonga zaseZiyon babemelwe ukuba ngabokuqala ukufumana iindaba zokufika koMsindisi, abokuqala ukuphakamisa amazwi okuvakalisa ukusondela kwaKhe, abokuqala ukulumkisaabantuukuba balungele ukuza kwaKhe.Bonabasukabonwaba, bephuphangoxolo nenkuseleko, lo gama abantu belele ezonweni zabo. UYesu walibona ibandla laKhe, lifana nomkhiwane ongenaziqhamo, ogqunywe ngamagqabi aqhathayo, kanti azikho iziqhamo ezixabisekileyo. Kwakukho ukugcinwa ngokuzigabisa kwemo zenkolo, ngeli xesha umoya wokuthobeka kwenene, ukuzohlwaya, nokholo—izinto ekuphela kwazo ezazinika inkonzo eyamkelekileyo kuThixo—wawungekho. Endaweni yezibabalo zikaMoya, kwakubonakala ikratshi, ukuqhela, ukuzigwagwisa, umona, nengcinezelo. Ibandla eliwileyo lawavala amehlo abo abantu kwimiqondiso yamaxesha. UThixo akazange abashiye, okanye akuyeke ukunyaniseka kwaKhe ukuba kuwe phantsi; kodwa bona bemka kuYe, bazahlula kuthando lwaKhe. Kuba balayo ukuvumelana neemeko, izithembiso zaKhe azizange zikwazi ukuzaliseka kubo. IE18 285.2
Sinjalo isiphumo esiqinisekileyo sokutyeshela ukuxabisa nokuphuhlisa ukukhanya namalungelo uThixo awanikileyo. Ngaphandle kokuba ibandla lilandele ekuboneleleni kwaKhe okuvulekileyo, lisamkela yonke imitha yokukhanya, lisenza wonke umsebenzi otyhiliweyo, inkolo ingehla ekugqibeleni ibe kukugcinwa nje kweemo, nomoya obalulekileyo wokuhlonela uThixo ulahleke. Le nyaniso iphindaphindiwe ukuboniswa kwimbali yebandla. UThixo ufuna kubantu baKhe imisebenzi yokholo nokuthobela okuhambelana neentsikelelo namalungelo abawanikiweyo. Ukuthobela kufuna umbingelelo kwaye kubandakanya umnqamlezo; kwaye sisizathu eso sokuba abaninzi ababezibiza ngokuba bangabalandeli bakaKristu balayo ukwamkela ukukhanya okuvela ezulwini, bathi, njengamaYuda akudala, abalazi ixesha lokuvelelwa kwabo. Luka 19:44. Ngenxa yekratshi labo nokungakholwa kwabo, iNkosi yabadlula yayityhila inyaniso yayo kwabo bathi, njengabelusi baseBhetelehem neZazi zaseMpuma, bakuthobela konke ukukhanya ababekufumene. IE18 285.3