59—“Indlu KaIsrayeli”

Ekuvakaliseni iinyaniso zeendaba ezilungileyo ezingunaphakade kwizizwe, kwiintlanga, neelwimi, nabantu, ibandla likaThixo emhlabeni namhlanje lizalisekisa isiprofeto sakudala, sokuba uIsrayeli “uya kwendelisela iingcambu, atyatyambe adubule . . . balizalise lonke elimiweyo ngeziqhamo.” Isaya 27:6. Abalandeli bakaYesu, ngokusebenzisana nabathunywa basezulwini, bayakhawuleza ukungena kwiindawo ezimagqagala zomhlaba; kuze kuthi, ngokwesiphumo sokusebenza kwabo nzima, isiqhamo esininzi semiphefumlo exabisekileyo sikhule. Namhlanje, ngokungazange kwenzeka ngaphambili, ukusasazwa kwenyaniso yeBhayibhile ngeendlela ibandla elizinikeleyo kuzisela oonyana babantu uncedo olwabonakaliswa kwiinkulungwane ezadlulayo kwisithembiso esenziwa kuAbraham nakuIsrayeli,--kwibandla likaThixo emhlabeni kwisizukulwana ngasinye,--“Ndikusikelele, . . . ube yintsikelelo.” Genesis 12:2.AN 703.1

Esi sithembiso sentsikelelo sasimele ukuba sizaliseka ngomlinganiseloomkhulungexesha leenkulungwaneezalandela ukubuya kwamaIsrayeli kumazweokuthinjwakwawo. Yayilicebo likaThixoelokubaumhlaba wonke ulungiselwe ukufika kokuqala kukaKristu, njengokuba nanamhlanje indlela ilungiselela ukubuya kwaKhe kwesibini. Ekupheleni kweminyaka yokubhaca ehlazisayo, uThixo ngobubele wabanika abantu baKhe uIsrayeli, ngoZekariya, ingqiniseko: “Ndiyibuyele iZiyon, ndiya kuhlala ke phakathi kweYerusalem, kuthiwe iYerusalem ngumzi wenyaniso; nentaba kaYehova wemikhosi kuthiwe yintaba engcwele.” Waza ngabantu baKhe wathi, “Yabonani, . . . ndibe nguThixo wabo, ngenyaniso nangobulungisa.” Zekariya 8:3, 7, 8.AN 704.1

Ezi zithembiso zazixhomekeke ekuthobeleni. Izono ezazibonakala kumaIsrayeli ngaphambi kokuthinjwa, kwakungafunekiziphindwe. “Gwebani ngesigwebo senyaniso,” uYehova wabayalela abo babesemsebenzini wokwakha ngokutsha; “nenze inceba nemfesane elowo kumzalwana wakhe. Musani ukubacudisa abahlolokazi, neenkedama, nabasemzini, namahlwempu; musani ukucinga bubi entliziyweni yenu ngendoda engumzalwana.” “Thethani inyaniso elowo kummelwane wakhe; gwebani ngenyaniso nangesigwebo soxolo emasangweni enu.” Zekariya 7:9, 10; 8:16.AN 704.2

Yayityebile imivuzo, yomibini--owasemhlabeni nowasemoyeni, kwabo babeya kwenza le mithetho-siseko yobulungisa. “Kobakho imbewu yoxolo,” watsho uYehova, “umdiliya wonika isiqhamo sawo, nelizwe linike indyebo yalo, nezulu linike umbethewalo; zonke ezo zinto ndizidlise ilifa amasalela abantu. Kothi, njengoko benilutshabhiso ezintlangeni, ndlu kaYuda, nani ndlu kaIsrayeli, ndenjenjalo ukunisindisa, nibe yintsikelelo.” Zekariya 8:12, 13.AN 704.3

Ngokuthinjwa kwaseBhabheli, amaIsrayeli anyangwa ngempumelelo ekunquleni imifanekiso eqingqiweyo. Emva kokubuya kwawo, ayiqaphelisisa imfundiso yenkolo nokufunda oko kwakubhaliwe encwadini yomthetho nakubaprofeti ngokubhekiselele kunqulo lukaThixo oyinyaniso. Ukubuyiselwa kwetempile kwawenza ukuba akwazi ukuqhuba iinkonzo zasengcweleni. Phantsi kwenkokhelo kaZerubhabheli, uEzra, noNehemiya, baphindaphinda ukunqophisa ukugcina yonke imithetho nemimiselo kaYehova. Amathuba empumelelo awalandelayo anika ubungqina obaneleyo bokulungela kukaThixo ukwamkela nokuxolela, kodwa ke, ngokubona kufutshane okuyingozi, bathi rhoqo ukubuya umva kwisiphelo esiqaqambileyo, basuka bathi, ngokuthanda ukutsalela konke kubo, bathabathela kubo oko kwakuya kuzisa impiliso nobomi basemoyeni kwizihlwele ezingenakubalwa.AN 705.1

Oku kusilela ukuzalisekisa injongo yezulu, kwakubonakala kakhulu ngemihla kaMalaki. Ngeyona ndlela ingqongqo, umthunywa kaYehova wamelana nobubi obabuhlutha uIsrayeli impumelelo yasemhlabeni namandla asemoyeni. Ekuthethiseni kwakhe ababesaphula umthetho, umprofeti akayekanga babingeleli, engayekanga nabantu. “Isihlabo selizwi likaYehova esisingisele kuIsrayeli” ngoMalaki sasisesokuba, izifundo zexesha eladlulayo akufuneki zilityalwe nokuba umnqophiso owawenziwe nguYehova nendlu kaIsrayeli kufuneka ugcinwe ngokuthembeka. Kuphela ngenguquko ephuma entliziyweni ekunokuthi intsikelelo kaThixo izuzeke. “Kaloku ke,” wacenga umprofeti, “khanimbongoze uThixo ukuba asibabale.” Malaki 1:1, 9.AN 705.2

Kwakungengakuko ukusilela kukaIsrayeli kwexeshana, okwakunokwenzaukubaiceboelingunaphakadelokuhlangulwa koluntu litshitshiswe. Abo umprofeti wayebhekisa kubo babe nokungasiphulaphuli isigidimi abasinikwayo, kodwa iinjongo zikaYehova, kunjalo, zazihambela phambili ngokucothayo zisiya ekuzalisekeni kwazo ngokupheleleyo. “Ngokuba kuthabathela ekuphumeni kwelanga, kude kuse ekutshoneni kwalo,” uYehova uvakalisa ngomthunywa waKhe, “likhulu igama lam phakathi kwentlanga; nasezindaweni zonke kuqhunyiselwa, kunikelwe igama lam umnikelo ohlambulukileyo; ngokuba likhulu igama lam phakathi kweentlanga.” Malaki 1:11.AN 706.1

Umnqophiso “wobomi noxolo” uThixo awawenza noonyana bakaLevi—umnqophiso owawunokuthi, ukuba ugciniwe, uzise iintsikelelo ezingathethekiyo—uYehova ngoku wagqiba ukuba awuhlaziye nabo babekhe bazinkokeli zasemoyeni, kodwa bathi ngezigqitho bangaba“delekileyo nabathobekileyo ebantwini bonke.” Malaki 2:5, 9.AN 706.2

Ngokundilisekileyo, abenzi bobubi balunyukiswa ngemini yomgwebo ezayo nangenjongo kaYehova yokuzisa ngokukhawulezileyo intshabalalo kuye wonke umgqithi womthetho. Noko kunjalo, akukho noyedwa owashiywa ngaphandle kwethemba; iziprofeto zikaMalaki zokugwetywa zazikhatshwa zizimemo kwabo bangafuniyo ukuzohlwaya ukuba benze uxolo noThixo. “Buyelani kum,” wacenga uYehova; “ndibuyele kuni.” Malaki 3:7.AN 706.3

Kubonakala ngokungathi yonke intliziyo kufuneka isabele kwisimemo esinjalo. UThixo wamazulu ucenga abantwana baKhe abonayo ukuba babuyele kuYe, ukuze bazuze kwakhona intsebenziswano naYe ekuhambiseleni phambili umsebenzi waKhe emhlabeni. UYehova wolule isandla saKhe ukuba abambe isandla sikaIsrayeli ukuze abancede bahambe kwindlela emxinwa yokuzilandula nokuzincama, ukuze babelane naYe ngobundlalifa njengoonyana bakaThixo. Ingaba bangacengeka? Ingaba bangaliqonda ithemba labo ekuphela kwalo?AN 706.4

Hayi, ukuba buhlungu kwengxelo yokuba ngemihla kaMalaki, amaIsrayeli athingaza ukuyekela iintliziyo zawo ekuthobeleni ngokukhawuleza nangothando kunye nentsebenziswano enyanisekileyo! Ukuzithethelela kuyacaca kwimpendulo yawo, “Sibuye ngokuthini na?”AN 707.1

UYehova uveza kubantu baKhe esinye sezono zabo ezikhethekileyo. “Umntu angamqhatha na uThixo?” uyabuza. “Kanti nina niyandiqhatha” [IBHAYIBHILE]. Niqhubeka nokungasiboni isono, nibuze ngokungathobeliyo, “Sitheni na ukukuqhatha?”AN 707.2

Iqinisekile ngokwenene impendulo kaYehova: “Kwizishumi nemirhumo. Niqalekisiwe ngesiqalekiso; noko ke niphikele ukundiqhatha, nina luhlangandini nonke niphela. Ziziseni zonke izishumi endlwini yobuncwane bam, ize ke kubekho ukudla endlwini yam; ngoku nindicikide ngale nto, utsho uYehova wemikhosi, ukuba andisayi kunivulela na iingcango zezulu, ndinithululelele iintsikelelo, kude kungasweleki lutho. Ndoyikhalimela inkumbi edlayo ngenxa yenu, ingazonakalisi iziqhamo zomhlaba wenu, ungaphunzi umdiliya wenu entsimini; utsho uYehova wemikhosi. Zonke iintlanga ziya kuthi ninoyolo, ngokuba niya kuba lilizwe elinanziweyo; utsho uYehova wemikhosi.” Iindima 7-12.AN 707.3

UThixo usikelela umsebenzi wezandla zabantu, ukuze bakwazi ukubuyisela kuye esaKhe isabelo. Ubanika ukukhanya kwelanga nemvula; wenza ukuba utyani bukhule; ubanika impilo nesakhono sokuzuza indyebo. Yonke intsikelelo ivela kwisandla saKhe esipha ngokukhulu, kwaye ulangazelela ukuba amadoda nabafazi babonise umbulelo wabo ngokubuyisela kuYe isabelo ngezishumi neminikelo—ngeminikelo yokubulela, iminikelo yokuzithandela, iminikelo ngenxa yesono. Kufuneka banikele abanako emsebenzini waKhe, ukuze singahlali singenanto isidiliya saKhe. Kufuneka bakufunde ukuba iNkosi ibiya kwenza ntoni ukuba ibikule ndawo bakuyo. Kufuneka ukuba yonke imicimbi enzima bayise kuYo ngomthandazo. Kufuneka babonise umdla ongasekeleze nzuzo ekwakhiweni komsebenzi waKhe kuzo zonke iindawo zomhlaba.AN 707.4

Ngezigidimi ezinjengezo zazithwelwe nguMalaki, owokugqibela kubaprofeti beTestamente eNdala, ngangokucinezelwa okwenziwa zintshaba ezizintlanga, amaIsrayeli, ekugqibeleni afunda isifundo sokuba, impumelelo yenene ixhomekeka ekuthobeleni umthetho kaThixo. Kubantu abaninzi ke kodwa, ukuthobela kwakungesiso isiphumo sokholo nothando. Injongo yabo yayinokwenza nokuthanda okukokwabo. Inkonzo yangaphandle yayinganikwa njengesixhobo sokuzuza ubukhulu besizwe. Abantu abanyuliweyo abazange babe kukukhanya kwehlabathi, kodwa bazivalela kude nehlabathi ngenjongo yokuzikhusela ukuba bangalukuhlelwa ekunquleni izithixo. Imiqathango awayeyinikile uThixo, eyalela ukwendiselana phakathi kwabantu baKhe neentlanga, nokwalela uIsrayeli ukuba azihlanganise nezenzo zonqulo lwezithixo zezizwe ezijikelezileyo, zizinto ezagqwethwa kangangokuba zakha udonga phakathi kwamaIsrayeli nabo bonke abanye abantu, ngaloo ndlela zazivalela kude kwabanye iintsikelelo ezo uThixo wayeyalele ukuba zinikwe ihlabathi.AN 708.1

Kwangelo xesha linye, amaYuda, ngenxa yezono zawo, ayezahlula ngokwawo kuThixo. Ayengakwazi ukwahlula ukubaluleka okunzulu kwasemoyeni kwenkonzo yawo engumfuziselo. Kobawo ubulungisa, athembela emisebenzini yawo, kwimibingelelo neenkonzo ngokwazo, endaweni yokuxhomekeka kokuhle kwaLowo ezazisalatha kuYe zonkeizinto. Ngoko ke, [abantu], “befuna nokumisa obabo ubulungisa,” (Roma 10:3), bathembela ekuzaneliseni ngokugcina ngqongqo amasiko nezithethe. Ukuswela uMoya nobabalo lukaThixo, bazama ukuyivala loo ntswelo ngokuzigcina bexakeke kakhulu ngokugcina iinkonzo ezizodwa namatiletile azo. Benganelisekanga yimimiselo uThixo awayimisayo, bayisindisa imiyalelo yezulu ngezinyanzelo ezingenakubaleka zokwabo ukuceba. Okona umkhulu umsantsa phakathi kwabo noThixo, kwaba kukona baqinisela ngaphezulu ukuzenza ngokukhuthala ezi nkonzo.AN 708.2

Selebukho bonke obu buceducedu nobucukubhede obungumthwalo onzima, kwakungakwazeki konke ukuba abantu bawugcine umthetho. Imithetho-siseko emikhulu yobulungisa ebekwe kwiMithetho eliShumi, neenyaniso ezizukileyo ezenziwe isithunzi kwinkonzo engumfuziselo, nazo zazisithele ngokufanayo, zigqunyelelwe ngaphantsi kwemfungumfungu yesithethe nokumisela kwabantu. Abo babelangazelela ngokwenene ukumkhonza uThixo, nababezama ukuwugcina wonke umthetho njengoko wawiswa ngababingeleli nabalawuli, babencwina phantsi komthwalo onzima.AN 709.1

Njengesizwe, abantu bakwaIsrayeli, nangona babelangazelela ukufika kukaMesiya, babemke kakhulu kuThixo ngentliziyo nangobomi kangangokuba babengenayo imbono yesimilo okanye umsebenzi othunywe uMhlawuleli. Endaweni yokulangazelela ukuhlangulwa esonweni, nozuko noxolo lobungcwele, iintliziyo zabo zazizinze ekuhlangulweni kwiintshaba zesizwe, nokubuyiselwa kwegunya lasemhlabeni. Balindela uMesiya ukuba aze engumoyisi, aphule yonke into eyidyokhwe, aze aphakamise uIsrayeli ukuba abe nobungangamsha phezu kwazo zonke izizwe.Ngaloondlela uSathana waphumelela ekuzilungiseni iintliziyo zabantu ukuba zimale uMsindisi xa athe wabonakala. Ukuphakama kwentliziyoyabo, nembono yabo ephuthileyo ngesimilo nomsebenziwaKhe, kwakuya kubathintela ekuzibekeni emlinganiselweni ngokunyanisekileyo izibonakaliso zobuMesiya baKhe.AN 709.2

Ngaphezu kwewaka leminyaka, abantu bakwaYuda babelindele ukufika koMsindisi owayethenjisiwe. Awona mathemba abo awayeqaqambile ayezinze kwesi siganeko. Iminyaka eliwaka, ngengoma nesiprofeto, kwinkonzo yasetempileni nasemthandazweni wasekhaya, igama laKhe laligciniwe; ukanti, wathi akufika, abambona njengoMesiya ababemlindele ixesha elide kangako. “Weza kokwakhe, baza abakhe abamvuma.” Yohane 1:11. Kwiintliziyo zabo ezithanda ihlabathi, iNtanda yezulu yaba “njengehlumelo eliphuma ezweni elingumqwebedu.” Emehlweni abo “[waye] engenasithomo nabungangamela;” abazange babone buhle kuYe obungenza ukuba bangamnqwenela. Isaya 53:2.AN 710.1

Bonke ubomi bukaYesu waseNazarete phakathi kwabantu bamaYuda babukukungxolisa ekubaweni kwabo, njengoko kwakubonakala ekungakulungeleni kwabo ukwamkela amabango afanelekileyo oMnini wesidiliya phezu kwabo babe bekwe njengabagcini baso. Bawuthiya umzekelo waKhe wokunyaniseka nobungcwele; kwaza kwathi xa kufika uvavanyo lokugqibela, uvavanyo olwaluthetha ukuthobela kuse ebomini obungunaphakade, okanye ukungathobeli okusa ekufeni okungunaphakade, bamala Oyingcwele kaIsrayeli baza bathwala ubutyala bokubethelelwa kwaKhe emqamlezweni waseKalvari.AN 710.2

Emzekelisweni wesidiliya, uKristu, ngasekupheleni kolungiselelo lwaKhe lwasemhlabeni, watsalela ingqalelo yabafundisi bamaYuda kwiintsikelelo ezityebileyo ezabekwa phezu kukaIsrayeli, wathikwezi, wabonisaibango likaThixoekuthotyelweni ngabo. Wathi ngokucacileyo wabeka phambi kwabo uzuko lwenjongo yaKhe, ekwakuya kuthi, ngokuthobela kwabo, bayifezekise. Ngokususa isigqubuthelo ngakwixesha elizayo, wabonisa indlela, ekwakuya kuthi, ngokusilela ukuyifezekisa injongo yaKhe, isizwe sonke siphulukane nentsikelelo yaKhe size sizise intshabalalo phezu kwaso.AN 710.3

“Bekukho umninindlu othile,” watsho uKristu, “owatyala isidiliya, wasibiyela ngothango, wemba kuso isixovulelo seediliya, wakha inyango, waqeshisa ngaso kubalimi, wahambela kwelinye.” Mateyu 21:33. Ngako oko uMsindisi wayebhekisa “[kwi]sidiliya sikaYehova wemikhosi,” awathetha ngaso umprofeti uIsaya kwiinkulungwane ngaphambili ngokuthi “yindlu kaIsrayeli.” Isaya 5:7.AN 711.1

“Kuthe ke lakusondela ixesha leziqhamo,” waqhubeka uYesu, umnini sidiliya “wathuma abakhonzi bakhe kubalimi abo, ukuya kwamkela iziqhamo zaso. Besuka abalimi babathabatha abakhonzi bakhe, bathi omnye bamtyabula, omnye bambulala, nomye bamgibisela ngamatye. Wabuya wathuma abanye abakhonzi, bebaninzi kunabokuqala, benjenjalo nakubo. Uthe ke kamva wathuma kubo unyana wakhe, esithi, Baya kumhlonela yena unyana wam. Bathe ke bakumbona unyana abalimi, batshono ukuthi, Lo yindlalifa; yizani simbulale, sihlale nelifa lakhe. Bamthabatha, bamkhuphela ngaphandle kwesidiliya, bambulala.”AN 711.2

Akuba ewuzobile kubabingeleli umfanekiso wesona senzo sibi sokugqibela senkohlakalo, uKristu wabeka phambi kwabo umbuzo, esithi, “Xa athe weza ngoko umnini sidiliya, uya kwenza ntoni na kwabo balimi?” Ababingeleli babelilandela ibali ngomdla omkhulu; baza bathi Bengakuqondanga ukwalamana kwentetho nabo, bahlangana nabantu ekuphenduleni, “Uya kubatshabalalisa kakubi abangendawo abo, aze isidiliya eso aqeshise ngaso kubalimi bambi, abomamkelisa iziqhamo ngamaxesha azo.”AN 711.3

Bathe bengaqondanga, bavakalisa eyabo intshabalalo. UYesu wabakhangela, bathi, phantsi kweliso laKhe eligqogqayo, bazi ukuba uyazifunda iimfihlelo zeentliziyo zabo. Ubuthixo bakhe batshawuza phambi kwabo ngamandla angenakuphazameka. Bawubona kumgcini wesidiliya umfanekiso wabo, kwasuka kwaziphumela kubo ukukhuza, bathi, “Nakanye!”AN 712.1

Ngokundilisekileyo nangosizi, uKristu wabuza: “Anizanga nilese na ezibhalweni ukuthi , ilitye abalicekisayo abakhi, lelona laba yintloko yembombo; kwavela eNkosini oku, kungummangaliso emehlweni ethu? Ngenxa yoko ndithi kuni, Ubukumkani bukaThixo buya kususwa kuni, bunikwe uhlanga oluvizelisayo iziqhamo zabo. Kanjalo lowo uwe phezu kweli litye uya kutyumka, ke lowo lithe lamwela liya kumcola.” Mateyu 21:34-44.AN 712.2

UKristu ngewayeyijikile intshabalalo yesizwe sakwaYuda ukuba abantu babemamkele. Ngenxa yomnqweno nomona, abazange bakwazi ukuyizuza inceba. Bazimisela ukuba abasayi kumamkela uYesu waseNazarete njengoMesiya. Bakwala ukuKhanya kwelizwe, kwathi ukususela ngoko ubomi babo bajikelezwa bubumnyama obufana nobumnyama benzulu yobusuku. Intshabalalo eyayixelwe kwangaphambili yasifikela isizwe sakwaYuda. Iinkanuko zabo ezoyikekayo, ezingalawulekiyo, zabazisela intshabalalo. Ebumfameni bengqumboyabo, batshabalalisanaomnyenomnye. Ikratshilabo elinovukelo nelinenkani, lazisa phezu kwabo ingqumbo yaboyisi babo baseRoma. IYerusalem yatshatyalaliswa, itempile yachithwa yalinxuwa, indawo eyayimi kuyo yalinywa ngokwamasimi. Abantwana bakwaYuda batshabalala ngezona ndlela zimbi zokufa. Izigidi zathengiswa ukuba ziye ebukhobokeni kumazwe eentlanga.AN 712.3

Oko uThixo wayejonge ukukwenzela ihlabathi ngoIsrayeli, isizwe esinyuliweyo,uyakukufezangebandla laKhe namhla.“Isidiliya (saKhe) [u]qeshise ngaso kubalimi bambi,” kubantu baKhe abagcina umnqophiso, “abomamkelisa iziqhamo ngamaxesha azo” ngokuthembeka. Ayizange iNkosi ingabi nabo abameli abanyanisekileyo kulo mhlaba abathe bakwenza ukuthanda kwaKhe kwaba kokwabo. La mangqina kaThixo, abalwa phakathi kukaIsrayeli wasemoyeni, kwaye kubo kuya kuzalisekiswa zonke izithembiso zomnqophiso ezenziwa nguYehova kubantu baKhe bamandulo.AN 713.1

Namhlanje, ibandla likaThixo likhululekile ukuba liqhubele phambili ekulifezeni icebo lokusindiswa kohlanga olulahlekileyo. Kuzinkulungwane ezininzi abantu bakaThixo bebulaleka kukuthintelwa kweenkululeko zabo. Ukushunyayelwa kwegospile ngobunyulu bayo kwakusalelwa, zize ezona zohlwayo ziqatha zinikwe apho bathi ngesibindi bangayithobeli imiyalelo yabantu. Isiphumo soko, isidiliya esikhulu sokuziphatha seNkosi, phantse sahlala singenamntu. Abantu bakuvinjwa ukukhanya kwelizwi likaThixo. Ubumnyama bemposiso nenkolo bathembisa ukukucima ukwaziwa kwenkolo yenene. Ibandla likaThixo emhlabeni lalisekuthinjweni kwenene ngeli xesha lide lentshutshiso engenalusizi njengoko kwakunjalo koonyana bakaIsrayeli bebanjwe ekuthinjweni eBhabheli ngexesha besemfudusweni.AN 714.1

Makubulelwe ngoko kuThixo, kuba ibandla laKhe alisekho ebukhobokeni. KuIsrayeli wasemoyeni kubuyiselwe amalungelo awayelungiselelwe abantu bakaThixo ngexesha lokuhlangulwa kwabo eBhabheli. Kuyo yonke indawo yomhlaba, amadoda nabafazi bayasabela kwisigidimi esithunyelwe liZulu, awathi uYohane umtyhilelwa waprofeta ngaso ukuba siya kuvakaliswa phambi kokubuya kwesibini kukaKristu: “Moyikeni uThixo, nimzukise; ngokuba lifikile ixa lokugweba kwakhe.” IsiTyhilelo 14:7.AN 714.2

Akusayi kuba lixesha elide imikhosi yamandla obubi iligcine lilikhoboka ibandla; kuba “Iwile, iwile iBhabheli, loo mzi mkhulu,” oye “[waziseza] zonke iintlanga ngewayini yomsindo wobuhenyu bayo;” kwaza kwanikwa isigidimi uIsrayeli wasemoyeni, “Phumani kuyo, bantu bam, ukuze ningadlelani nayo ngezono zayo, nokuze ningamkeliswa kwizibetho zayo.” Indima 8; 18:4. Njengokuba amakhoboka awayesekuthinjweni asiphulaphula isigidimi, esasisithi, “Sabani niphume eBhabheli” (Yeremiya 51:6), aza abuyiselwa eZweni leDinga, ngokunjalo abo bamoyikayo uThixo namhlanje bayasithobela isigidimi sokuba barhoxe kwiBhabheli yasemoyeni, kwaye kungekudala baya kuma bezizithungu zobabalo lwezulu emhlabeni owenziwe wamtsha, iKanan yasezulwini.AN 715.1

Ngemihla kaMalaki, umbuzo wokuhlekisa wabangafuniyo ukuzohlwaya, owawusithi, “Uphi na uThixo wokugweba?” wahlangana nempendulo enendili: “Iya kuza ke ngesiquphe etempileni yayo iNkosi leyo . . . kwaumthunywa womnqophiso. . . . Ngubani na ke onokuyinyamezela imini yokuza kwakhe? Ngubani na ke onokuma ekubonakaleni kwakhe? Ngokuba unjengomlilo womnyibilikisi, unjengesoda yabaxovuli beengubo. Uya kuhlala ke engumnyibilikisi, engumcoci wesilivere, abacoce oonyana bakaLevi, abahluze njengegolide, nanjengesilivere; babe ngabazisa umnikelo kaYehova benobulungisa. Woba mnandi ke kuYehova umnikelo wakwaYuda nowaseYerusalem, ngokweemini zasephakadeni ngokweminyaka yamandulo.” Malaki 2:17; 3:1-4.AN 715.2

Xa wayeza kuvela uMesiya owayethenjisiwe, isigidimi sowayehamba phambi kukaKristu sasisithi: Guqukani, babuthi berhafu nani boni; guqukani, baFarisi nani baSadusi; “kuba ubukumkani bamazulu busondele.” Mateyu 3:2.AN 715.3

Namhlanje, ngomoya namandla kaEliya noYohane umBhaptizi, abathunywa abanyulwe nguThixo batsalela iingqondo zehlabathi elibheka emgwebeni kwiziganeko ezinendili eziza kwenzeka ngokuhlangene nokuphela kweeyure zenceba nokubonakala kukaKristu Yesu njengoKumkani wookumkani neNkosi yeenkosi. Kungekudala wonke umntu uza kugwetywa ngezenzo azenzileyo ngomzimba [wakhe]. Iyure yokugweba kukaThixo ifikile, kwaye kulele phezu kwamalungu ebandla laKhe uxanduva olunendili lokunika isilumkiso kwabo bemiyo kanye emngciphekweni wentshabalalo engunaphakade. Kuye wonke umntu kubo bonke ububanzi belizwe othi aphulaphule, kufuneka kucaciswe imithetho-siseko esengozini kwimbambano enkulu eqhubekayo, imithetho-siseko ekumi phezu kwayo iziphelo zalo lonke uluntu.AN 716.1

Kwezi yure zokugqibela zenceba koonyana babantu, xa isiphelo somphefumlo ngamnye siza kugqitywa ngonaphakade, iNkosi yamazulu nomhlaba ilindele ukuba ibandla laYo lisukume lisebenze ngaphezu kokuba lakha lenza ngaphambili. Kwabo bakhululwayo bakuKristu ngokwazi inyaniso eligugu, bathatyathwa yiNkosi uYesu njengabanyulwa baYo, abathandwe ngaphezu kwabantu bonke abaphezu komhlaba; kwaye kuxhomekeke kubo ukuba babonakalalise iindumiso kuLowo wababiza ukuba baphume ebumnyameni beze ekukhanyeni okumangalisayo. Iintsikelelo ezinikwe ngesisa esingako kufuneka zidluliselwe nakwabanye. Iindaba ezilungileyo zosindiso zimele ukuba ziye kuzo zonke izizwe, neentlanga, neelwimi, nabantu.AN 716.2

Emibonweniyabaprofethibakudala, iNKosi yozuko yayityhilwa inika ukukhanya okukhethekileyo phezu kwebandla laYo ngemihla yobumnyama nokungakholwa okwakungaphambi kokuza kwaYo kwesibini. Wayeza kuphuma njengeLanga lobuLungisa phezu kwebandla laKhe, “linophiliso emaphikweni alo.” Malaki 4:2. Kuye wonke ke umfundi wenene, kwakuza kutyhutyha ngaphakathi impembelelo yobomi, isibindi, ukuba luncedo nokuphilisa kwenyaniso.AN 717.1

Ukuza kukaKristu kuya kuba ngexesha leyona yure imnyama kwimbali yalo mhlaba. Imihla kaNowa noLothe ibonakalisa imeko yelizwe kanye phambi kokuza koNyana woMntu. IziBhalo, zisalatha phambili kweli xesha, zithi uSathana uya kusebenza ngawo onke amandla “ukulukuhla konke kokungalungisi.” 2 Tesalonika 2:9, 10. Ukusebenza kwakhe kutyhilwa ngokucacileyo kukwanda ngokukhawuleza kobumnyama, iimfumba zeemposiso, ukuchasana nenkolo, nolahlekiso lwale mihla yokugqibela. USathana akaneli nje ukulikhokelela ekuthinjweni ilizwe, kodwa iinkohliso zakhe zisebenza okwegwele kumabandla azibiza ngeNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu. Ukreqo olukhulu luya kukhula lube bubumnyama obungqingqwa ngokwasezinzulwini zobusuku. Ebantwini bakaThixo, iya kuba bubusuku bokulingwa, ubusuku bokukhala, ubusuku bokutshutshiswa ngenxa yenyaniso. Sekunjalo, kobo busuku bobumnyama, ukukhanya kukaThixokuya kubengezela.AN 717.2

Wenza ukuba “ukhanyiso malukhanye ebumnyameni.” 2 Korinte 4:6. Ngexesha “kwakusenyanyeni, kuselubala; kwakumnyama phezu kwamanzi enzonzobila,” “uMoya kaThixo wafukama phezu kwamanzi lawo. Wathi uThixo, Makubekho ukukhanya; kwabakho ke ukukhanya” Genesis 1:2, 3. Ngokunjalo, nakubusuku bobumnyama basemoyeni, ilizwi likaThixo liyaphuma, lithi, “Makubekho ukukhanya.” Kubantu baKhe uthi, “Suk’ ume ukhanye, kuba kufikile ukukhanya kwakho nobuqaqawuli bukaYehova buthe chapha kuwe.” Isaya 60:1.AN 717.3

“Uyabona,” sitsho isiBhalo, “ubumnyama buwugubungele umhlaba, isithokothoko sizigubungele izizwe; ke kuwe uYehova uthe chapha, ubuqaqawuli bakhe bubonakele phezu kwakho.” Indima 2. UKristu, ukukhanya okugqithisileyo kobuqaqawuli bukaYise, weza emhlabeni ekukukhanya kwawo. Weza kumela uThixo ebantwini, nekubhaliweyo ngaYe ukuba wathanjiswa “ngoMoya oyiNgcwele nangamandla,” waza “wagqiba ilizwe esiza.” IZenzo 10:38. Endlwini yesikhungu eNazarete wathi, “UMoya weNkosi uphezu kwam, ethe ngenxa yoko yandithambisela ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo kumahlwempu. Indithume ukuba ndiphilise abantliziyo ityumkileyo, ndivakalise inkululeko kubathinjwa, nokubuyiselwa kokubona kwabaziimfama, ndindulule abaqobekileyo bekhululekile, ndivakalise umnyaka owamkelekileyo weNkosi.” Luka 4:18,19. Ngumsebenzi lo awayalela abafundi baKhe ukuba bawenze. “Nina nilukhanyiselo lwehlabathi;” watsho. “Malukhane ngokunjalo ukhanyiselo lwenu phambi kwabantu; ukuze bayibone imisebenzi yenu emihle, bamzukise uYihlo osemazulwini.”Mateyu 5:14, 16.AN 718.1

Ngumsebenzi lo awuchazayo umprofeti uIsaya xa athi: “Asikoku na: ukumqhekezela esonkeni sakho olambileyo, ubangenise endlwini abaziintsizana, abatshutshiswayo? xa uthe wabona ohamba ze, umambese ungazifihli kwinyama yakho. Kuya kwandula ke ukukhanya kwakho kuthi qhiphu njengokusa, kuhlume kamsinya ukupholiswa kwakho, buhambe phambi kwakho ubulungisa bakho, buqoshelise emva kwakho ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova.” Isaya 58:7, 8.AN 718.2

Kuya kuthi ngoko, phakathi kobumnyama basemoyeni, ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo bubengezele ngebandla lakhe ekuphakamiseni abo bagobe kukusindwa [ngumthwalo] nokuthuthuzela abo balilayo.AN 718.3

Kuko konke okusingqongileyo, kuvakala izikhalo zosizi lwehlabathi. Macaleni onke, kukho abasweleyo nabanoxinzeleko. Kukuthi ukuba sincede ekukhululeni nasekuthomalaliseni iinzima nembandezelo. Iintswelo zomphefumlo zinganeliswa kuphela luthando lukaKristu. Ukuba uKristu uhleli ngaphakathi kwethu, iintliziyo zethu ziya kuzala luvelwano olungcwele. Le mithombo yothando olunyanisekileyo, olufana nolukaKristu, iya kuvulwa ukutywinwa.AN 719.1

Baninzi elithe ithemba labashiya. Buyeselani ukukhanya kwelanga kubo. Abaninzi balahlekwe kukuqina kwabo. Thethani nabo amazwi enkuthazo. Bathandazeleni. Bakho abo badinga isonka sobomi. Bafundeleni ilizwi likaThixo. Kwabaninzi kukho ukugula komphefumlo ekungekho mathunga wasemhlabeni unakho ukufikelela, kwaye kungekho nagqirha unakho ukuphilisa. Yithandazeleni le miphefumlo. Yiziseni kuYesu. Yixeleleni ukuba ukho umathunga eGiliyadi, noGqirha ukhona apho.AN 719.2

Ukukhanya kuyintsikelelo, intsikelelo yezwe lonke, kuthulula indyebo yako kwilizwe elingenambulelo, elingengcwele, nelonakalisiweyo ekuziphatheni. Kunjalo nako ukukhanya kweLanga loBulungisa [ukuba yintsikelelo]. Umhlaba wonke, ugutyungelwe unjalo bubumnyama besono nosizi nentlungu, kufuneka kukhanyiselwe ngolwazi lothando lukaThixo. Kususela kwihlelo lenkonzo, uluhlu, okanye udidi lwabantu akufuneki ukuba ukukhanya okuphuma kwitrone yasezulwini kungafiki.AN 719.3

Isigidimi sethemba nenceba kufuneka sisiwe eziphelweni zomhlaba. Lowo unakho, makolule isandla afumane amandla kaThixo enze uxolo kunye naYe, naYe uya kwenza uxolo. Akusadingeki ukuba iintlanga zigutyungelwe bubumnyama benzulu yobusuku. Ubumnyama kufuneka bubaleke phambi kwemitha ekhanyayo yeLanga loBulungisa.AN 719.4

UKristu wenze wonke umsindleko ukuba ibandla laKhe libe ngumzimba owenziwe kumila kumbi, okhanyiswe kukuKhanya kwelizwe, linobuqaqawuli bukaImanuweli. Yinjongo yaKhe ukuba wonke umKristu ajikelezwe ngokwasemoyeni yimpepho yokukhanya noxolo. Ulangazelela ukuba sityhile olwaKhe uvuyo ebomini bethu.AN 720.1

“Suk’ ume ukhanye, kuba kufikile ukukhanya kwakho nobuqaqawuli bukaYehova buthe chapha kuwe.” Isaya 60:1. UKristu uza ngamandla nobuqaqawuli obukhulu. Uza enobakhe ubuqaqawuli kunye nobuqaqawuli bukaYise. Izithunywa ezingcwele ziya kuba zinaYe endleleni yaKhe. Ngexesha ihlabathi lonke liya kuba ligutyungelwe bubumnyama, kuya kubakho ukukhanya kuyo yonke indawo yokuhlala kwabangcwele. Baya kufumana ukukhanya kokuqala kokubonakala kwaKhe kwesibini. Ukukhanya okungasayi kudanjiswa nto kuya kubengezela kuphuma ekukhanyeni kobuhle baKhe, aze uKristu uMhlawuleli abukwe ngabo bonke abo baye bamkhonza. Lo gama abakhohlakeleyo bebaleka, abalandeli bakaKrisu baya kuvuya phambi kwaKhe.AN 720.2

Kuya kuba ngelo xesha abaya kuthi abahlangulweyo phakathi kwabantu bazuze ilifa labo ababelithenjisiwe. Ngoko ke, injongo kaThixo ngoIsrayeli iya kuba nokuzaliseka ngendlela ephathekayo. Oko uThixo akunqophileyo, umntu akanawo amandla okukucima. Naphakathi kokusebenza kobubi, iinjongo zikaThixo zibe zihamba zithe chu ukubheka phambili zisinga ekuzalisekisweni kwazo. Kwakunjalo kwindlu kaIsrayeli kuyo yonke imbali yobukumkani obahlukeneyo; kunjalo nakuIsrayeli wasemoyeni namhlanje.AN 720.3

Imboni yasePatimo, ikhangele kwizizukulwana kuse kwixesha lokubuyiselwa kukaIsrayeli kumhlaba owenziwe mtsha, yangqina, yathi:AN 720.4

“Ndabona, naso isihlwele esikhulu, ebekungekho namnye unako ukusibala,siphuma kuzozonke iintlanga, nezizwe, nabantu, neelwimi, simi phambi kwetrone naphambi kweMvana, bethiwe wambu ngeengubo ezinde ezimhlophe, benamasundu ezandleni zabo, bedanduluka ngezwi elikhulu besithi: Usindiso kuye uThixo wethu, Lowo uhleli phezu kwetrone, nakuyo iMvana!AN 721.1

“Zaye zonke izithunywa zezulu zimi, zenze isangqa etroneni, nakuwo amadoda amakhulu , nakuzo izinto eziphilileyo zone, zawa phambi kwetrone ngobuso bazo, zaqubuda kuye uThixo, zisithi: Amen: Ukubongwa, nozuko, nobulumko, nembeko, namandla, nokomelela, makube kuye uThixo wethu, kuse emaphakadeni asemaphakadeni! Amen.AN 721.2

“Ndeva sanga sisandi sesihlwele esikhulu, sanga sisandi samanzi amaninzi, sanga sisandi seendudumo ezinkulu, sisithi, Haleluya! Ngokuba iNkosi uThixo uSomandla inguKumkani. Masivuye sigcobe, siyizukise.” “InguNkosi kankosi, inguKumkani kakumkani; baya kweyisa nabo banayo, babiziweyo, banyuliweyo, bathembekileyo.” IsiTyhilelo 7:9-12; 19:6, 7; 17:14.AN 721.3