Bonke Mabakhazimulise UJehova!

“Mdumiseni uJehova empumalanga.”—ISAYA 24:15.

1. Abaprofethi bakaJehova babelibheka kanjani igama lakhe, okuphambana nasiphi isimo sengqondo kweLobukholwa namuhla?

UJEHOVA—igama likaNkulunkulu eliphakeme! Yeka ukuthi abaprofethi basendulo abakholekile bakujabulela kanjani ukukhuluma ngalelo gama! Ngenjabulo badumisa iNkosi yabo enguMbusi, uJehova, egama layo liyichaza njengoMsunguli Wezinjongo OMkhulu. (Isaya 40:5; Jeremiya 10:6, 10; Hezekeli 36:23) Ngisho nalabo okuthiwa abaprofethi abancane babengazigodli ekukhazimuliseni uJehova. Omunye wabo uHagayi. Encwadini kaHagayi, enamavesi angu-38 nje kuphela, igama likaNkulunkulu lisetshenziswe izikhathi ezingu-35. Isiprofetho esinjalo asizwakali lapho kufakwa isiqu esithi “Nkosi” esikhundleni segama eliyigugu elithi Jehova, njengoba kwenza abaphostoli beLobukholwa abazibona bengcono ezinguqulweni zabo zamaBhayibheli.—Qhathanisa neyesi-2 Korinte 11:5.

2, 3. (a) Sagcwaliseka kanjani esinye isiprofetho esiphawulekayo esiphathelene nokubuyiselwa kuka-Israyeli? (b) Insali yamaJuda nabangane bayo yahlanganyela kuyiphi injabulo?

² Ku-Isaya 12:2 (NW), kusetshenziswe izindlela ezimbili zokubhala leli gama.a Umprofethi uthi: “Bheka! UNkulunkulu uyinsindiso yami. Ngiyokwethemba futhi ngingesabi; ngoba uJah Jehova uyizikhwepha zami namandla ami, futhi waba yinsindiso yami.” (Bheka no-Isaya 26:4, NW.) Ngakho, eminyakeni engaba ngu-200 ngaphambi kokukhululwa kuka-Israyeli ekuthunjweni yiBabiloni, uJah Jehova ngomprofethi wakhe u-Isaya wayenikeza isiqinisekiso sokuthi unguMsindisi wakhe onamandla. Lokho kuthunjwa kwakuyoqhubeka kusukela ngo-607 kuya ku-537 B.C.E. U-Isaya wabhala futhi: “NginguJehova owenza konke, . . . oshoyo ngoKoresi ukuthi: Ungumalusi wami, uyakufeza konke okwentando yami, athi ngeJerusalema: Liyakwakhiwa, nakulo ithempeli: Isisekelo sakho siyakubekwa.” Wayengubani loKoresi? Ngokuphawulekayo, wabonakala eyiNkosi uKoresi yasePheresiya, eyanqoba iBabiloni ngo-539 B.C.E.—Isaya 44:24, 28.

³ Ekugcwalisekeni kwamazwi kaJehova alotshwa u-Isaya, uKoresi wanika ama-Israyeli ayethunjiwe lomyalo: “Noma ngumuphi phakathi kwenu kubo bonke abantu bakhe, uNkulunkulu wakhe makabe-naye, akhuphukele eJerusalema lakwaJuda, akhe indlu kaJehova uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, yena onguNkulunkulu waseJerusalema.” Insali yamaJuda eyayichichima injabulo kanye namaNethini angewona ama-Israyeli namadodana ezinceku zikaSolomoni yabuyela eJerusalema. Yafika ngesikhathi ukuze igubhe uMkhosi Wamadokodo ngo-537 B.C.E. futhi yenzele uJehova imihlatshelo e-altare lakhe. Ngonyaka olandelayo, ngenyanga yesibili, yabeka isisekelo sethempeli lesibili, phakathi nokuhlokoma kwenjabulo nokokudumisa uJehova.—Ezra 1:1-4; 2:1, 2, 43, 55; 3:1-6, 8, 10-13.

4. Izahluko 35 no-55 zika-Isaya zagcwaliseka kanjani?

⁴ Isiprofetho sikaJehova sokubuyisela sasizogcwaliseka ngokukhazimulayo kwa-Israyeli: “Kuyakujabula ihlane nogwadule, kuthokoze uqwathule, lukhahlele njengentebe. . . . Lubone inkazimulo kaJehova, nobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu wethu.” “Niyakuphuma ngokuthokoza, niholwe ngokuthula; izintaba namagquma kuyakuqhumuka ngokuhlabelela phambi kwenu, . . . Kuyakuba-yigama kuJehova nesibonakaliso esingapheliyo esingayikunqunywa.”—Isaya 35:1, 2; 55:12, 13.

5. Kungani injabulo ka-Israyeli yaba ngeyesikhashana?

⁵ Nokho, leyo njabulo kwakungeyesikhashana. Abantu abangomakhelwane bafuna ukuba kwenziwe isivumelwano sokuxubanisa inkolo ekwakhiweni kwethempeli. AmaJuda aqale enqaba, ethi: “Aninandaba nathi yokwakhela uNkulunkulu wethu indlu, kepha thina sodwa siyakumakhela uJehova uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli njengokusiyala kwenkosi uKoresi.” Labomakhelwane manje baba abaphikisi abanenzondo. ‘Babedangalisa izandla zabantu bakwaJuda, bebasabisa ekwakheni.’ Futhi bakhuluma kabi ngesimo kowalandela uKoresi ekubuseni, u-Aritahishashita, owakhipha umthetho owenqabela ukwakhiwa kwethempeli. (Ezra 4:1-24) Umsebenzi wama iminyaka engu-17. Ngokudabukisayo, amaJuda ahileleka endleleni yokuphila yokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo phakathi naleso sikhathi.

“UJehova Wamabutho” Uyakhuluma

6. (a) UJehova wasabela kanjani esimweni esasikwa-Israyeli? (b) Kungani okubonakala kuyincazelo yegama likaHagayi kufaneleka?

⁶ Nakuba kunjalo, uJehova wabonisa ‘izikhwepha namandla akhe’ ngenxa ka-Israyeli ngokuthumela abaprofethi, ikakhulukazi uHagayi noZakariya, ukuba bavuse amaJuda aqaphele imithwalo yawo yemfanelo. Igama likaHagayi lithintene nomkhosi, ngoba kubonakala lisho ukuthi “Ozalwe Ngosuku Lomkhosi.” Ngokufanelekile, waqala ukuprofetha ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yoMkhosi Wamadokodo, okuyisikhathi amaJuda ayeyalwe ukuba ‘athokoze kakhulu’ ngaso. (Duteronomi 16:15) NgoHagayi, uJehova wadlulisela izigijimi ezine phakathi nenkathi yezinsuku ezingu-112.—Hagayi 1:1; 2:1, 10, 20.

7. Amazwi kaHagayi esethulo kufanele asikhuthaze kanjani?

⁷ Ethula isiprofetho sakhe, uHagayi wathi: “Usho kanje uJehova [“wamabutho,” NW].” (Hagayi 1:2a) Angaba obani lawo “mabutho”? Awuquqaba lwezingelosi zikaJehova, ngezinye izikhathi iBhayibheli elibhekisela kulo njengamabutho empi. (Jobe 1:6; 2:1; IHubo 103:20, 21; Mathewu 26:53) Akusikhuthazi yini namuhla ukuthi iNkosi enguMbusi ngokwayo uJehova isebenzisa lamabutho asezulwini angenakunqotshwa ukuze iqondise umsebenzi wethu wokubuyisela ukukhulekela kweqiniso emhlabeni?—Qhathanisa neyesi-2 AmaKhosi 6:15-17.

8. Yimuphi umbono owawusuthonye u-Israyeli, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?

⁸ Isigijimi sikaHagayi sokuqala sasiquketheni? Abantu babethé: “Akukabi-yisikhathi sokuza, isikhathi sokwakha indlu kaJehova.” Ukwakhiwa kwethempeli elalimelela ukubuyiselwa kokukhulekela kwaphezulu, kwakungaseyona into ababeyikhathalela ngokuyinhloko. Base bephendukele ekuzakheleni izithabathaba zemizi. Umbono wokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo wawusunciphise intshiseko yabo ngokukhulekelwa kukaJehova. Ngenxa yalokho, isibusiso sakhe sasisusiwe. Amasimu abo ayengasakhiqizi, futhi baswela izingubo zokugqoka ngesikhathi sasebusika esibandayo. Inzuzo ababeyithola yancipha, futhi kwakunjengokungathi bafaka imali esikhwameni esinezimbobo.—Hagayi 1:2b-6.

9. Yisiphi iseluleko esiqinile nesakhayo uJehova asinikeza?

⁹ Izikhathi ezimbili, uJehova wanikeza iseluleko esiqinile: “Bekani ezinhliziyweni zenu izindlela zenu.” Ngokusobala, uZerubabele, umbusi waseJerusalema, nompristi omkhulu uJoshuwab basabela futhi ngesibindi bakhuthaza bonke abantu ukuba ‘balalele izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wabo namazwi kaHagayi umprofethi, njengokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo emthumile; abantu besaba phambi kukaJehova.’ Ngaphezu kwalokho, “Wayesekhuluma uHagayi isithunywa sikaJehova, ngesimemezelo sikaJehova kubantu, wathi: Nginani, usho uJehova.”—Hagayi 1:5, 7-14.

10. UJehova wawasebenzisa kanjani amandla akhe ngenxa ka-Israyeli?

¹⁰ Abanye abantu baseJerusalema abase bemnkantsh’ubomvu kungenzeka bacabanga ukuthi inkazimulo yethempeli elakhiwe kabusha yayingayikuba ‘yilutho’ uma iqhathaniswa naleyo yethempeli lokuqala. Nokho, ezinsukwini ezingaba ngu-51 kamuva, uJehova washukumisela uHagayi ukuba amemezele isigijimi sesibili. Wathi: “Qina manje, Zerubabele, usho uJehova, ube-namandla, Joshuwa, ndodana kaJehosadaki, mpristi omkhulu, niqine nonke nina-bantu bezwe, usho uJehova, nisebenze ngokuba nginani, usho uJehova [wamabutho]. . . . Ningesabi.” UJehova, okwakuzothi ngesikhathi esifanele asebenzise amandla akhe angenakulinganiswa ukuba ‘azamazamise amazulu nomhlaba,’ waqikelela ukuthi konke ukuphikiswa, ngisho nomthetho owenqabelayo wombuso, kuyasuswa. Eminyakeni emihlanu isakhiwo sethempeli saphothulwa ngokuphumelelayo.—Hagayi 2:3-6.

11. UNkulunkulu waligcwalisa kanjani ithempeli lesibili ‘ngenkazimulo enkulu’?

¹¹ Kwabe sekugcwaliseka isithembiso esiphawulekayo: “Kufike okunxanelekayo kwabo bonke abezizwe, ngiyigcwalise lendlu ngenkazimulo, usho uJehova [wamabutho].” (Hagayi 2:7) Lokho “okunxanelekayo” kwabonakala kuyilabo abangewona ama-Israyeli abeza bezokhulekela kulelo thempeli, njengoba lalibonisa inkazimulo yokuba khona kwakhe kobukhosi. Leli thempeli elakhiwe kabusha laliqhathaniseka kanjani nalelo elalakhiwe osukwini lukaSolomoni? Umprofethi kaNkulunkulu wathi: “Inkazimulo yokugcina yalendlu iyakuba-nkulu kuneyokuqala, usho uJehova [wamabutho].” (Hagayi 2:9) Ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala kwalesi siprofetho, ithempeli elakhiwe kabusha lahlala isikhathi eside kunendlu yokuqala. Lalisamile lapho kuvela uMesiya ngo-29 C.E. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngaphambi kokuba izitha zakhe eziyizihlubuki zenze ukuba abulawe ngo-33 C.E., uMesiya ngokwakhe walilethela inkazimulo lapho eshumayela iqiniso kulo.

12. Amathempeli amabili okuqala afeza yiphi injongo?

¹² Amathempeli aseJerusalema, elokuqala nelesibili, afeza injongo ebalulekile ekufuziseleni izici ezibalulekile zenkonzo kaMesiya yobupristi nasekugcineni ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova okumsulwa kuqhubeka emhlabeni kwaze kwaba yilapho uMesiya evela ngokoqobo.—Heberu 10:1.

Ithempeli Elingokomoya Elikhazimulayo

13. (a) Yiziphi izenzakalo ngokuqondene nethempeli elingokomoya ezenzeka kusukela ngo-29 kuya ku-33 C.E.? (b) Umhlatshelo wesihlengo kaJesu wafeza yiphi indima ebalulekile kulezi zenzakalo?

¹³ Ingabe isiprofetho sikaHagayi sokubuyiselwa sinencazelo ekhethekile ngezikhathi zakamuva? Ngokuqinisekile! Ithempeli laseJerusalema elalakhiwe kabusha laba isikhungo sakho konke ukukhulekela kweqiniso emhlabeni. Kodwa lafanekisela ithempeli elingokomoya elikhazimula nakakhulu. Leli laqala ukusebenza ngo-29 C.E. ngesikhathi uJesu ebhapathizwa eMfuleni iJordani, uJehova emgcoba njengomPristi Ophakeme, futhi umoya ongcwele wehlela phezu kwakhe njengejuba. (Mathewu 3:16) Ngemva kokuba uJesu ephothule inkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni ngokufa okuwumhlatshelo, wavuselwa ezulwini, elalifanekiselwa iNgcwelengcwele yethempeli, futhi lapho, wethula kuJehova inani lomhlatshelo wakhe. Lokhu kwaba isihlengo, esimboza izono zabafundi bakhe, futhi kwavula indlela yokuba bagcotshwe njengabapristi abangaphansi ethempelini likaJehova elingokomoya, ngosuku lwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. Inkonzo yabo yokukholeka kuze kube sekufeni egcekeni lethempeli emhlabeni yayiyoholela ekuvuselweni ezulwini esikhathini esizayo, ukuze baqhubeke nenkonzo yobupristi.

14. (a) Iyiphi injabulo eyayihambisana nomsebenzi wentshiseko webandla lamaKristu lokuqala? (b) Kungani lenjabulo yaba ngeyesikhashana?

¹⁴ Izinkulungwane zamaJuda aphendukile—kamuva nabeZizwe—zathutheleka kulelo bandla lobuKristu futhi zahlanganyela ekumemezeleni izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ozayo emhlabeni. Ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-30, umphostoli uPawulu wayengathi izindaba ezinhle zazishunyayelwe “kuyo yonke indalo engaphansi kwezulu.” (Kolose 1:23) Kodwa ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli, kwaqala ukuhlubuka okukhulu, futhi ukukhanya kweqiniso kwaqala ukufiphala. UbuKristu beqiniso bafiphazwa amahlelo eLobukholwa, asekelwe ezimfundisweni zobuqaba nakumafilosofi.—IzEnzo 20:29, 30.

15, 16. (a) Isiprofetho sagcwaliseka kanjani ngo-1914? (b) Yikuphi ukubuthwa okwenzeka ngasekupheleni kwekhulu le-19 nasekuqaleni kwelama-20?

¹⁵ Kwadlula amakhulu eminyaka. Kwabe sekuthi ngawo-1870, iqembu lamaKristu aqotho laqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli ngokujulile. Ngokusekelwe emBhalweni, lakwazi ukukhomba unyaka ka-1914 njengophawula isiphelo ‘sezikhathi ezimisiwe zezizwe.’ “Izikhathi” eziyisikhombisa ezingokomfanekiso (iminyaka engu-2 520 yokubusa komuntu okunjengokwesilo) zaphela ngaleso sikhathi lapho uKristu Jesu ebekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi sasezulwini—Lowo “omfanelo ingeyakhe” njengeNkosi yasemhlabeni yobuMesiya. (Luka 21:24; Daniyeli 4:25; Hezekeli 21:26, 27) Ikakhulukazi kusukela ngo-1919 kuqhubeke, laba baFundi BeBhayibheli, namuhla abaziwa ngokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova, bebehileleke ekusakazeni ngentshiseko kuwo wonke umhlaba izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso ozayo. Ngo-1919 izinkulungwane eziningana zalaba zasabela esimemweni sokwenza lomsebenzi esakhishwa emhlanganweni eCedar Point, e-Ohio, e-U.S.A. Zanda ngenani kwaze kwaba ngonyaka ka-1935 lapho abangu-56 153 bebika inkonzo yasensimini. Ngalowo nyaka, abangu-52 465 babeye bahlanganyela ezifanekiselweni zesinkwa newayini eSikhumbuzweni saminyaka yonke sokufa kukaJesu, ngaleyo ndlela bebonisa ithemba labo lokuba abapristi noKristu Jesu engxenyeni yasezulwini yethempeli likaJehova elikhulu elingokomoya. Futhi kumelwe bakhonze njengamakhosi kanye naye eMbusweni wakhe wobuMesiya.—Luka 22:29, 30; Roma 8:15-17.

¹⁶ Nokho, isAmbulo 7:4-8 no- 14:1-4 sibonisa ukuthi ingqikithi yenani lalamaKristu agcotshiwe lilinganiselwe ku-144 000, iningi lawo labuthwa phakathi nekhulu lokuqala ngaphambi kokuba ukuhlubuka okukhulu kuqale. Kusukela ekupheleni kwekhulu le-19 kwaze kwangenela kwelama-20, uJehova ubephelelisa ukubuthwa kwaleli qembu elihlanzwa ngamanzi eZwi lakhe, kuthiwe lilungile ngokuba nokholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu ohlawulelayo, futhi ekugcineni libekwe uphawu njengamaKristu agcotshiwe ukuze lakhe inani eliphelele elingu-144 000.

17. (a) Yikuphi ukubuthwa okuye kwaqhubeka kusukela ngawo-1930? (b) Kungani ekaJohane 3:30 isithakazelisa lapha? (Bheka noLuka 7:28.)

¹⁷ Yini elandelayo lapho inani eliphelele labagcotshiwe selikhethiwe? Ngo-1935, emhlanganweni owawuyingqopha-mlando eWashington, D.C., e-U.S.A., kwamenyezelwa ukuthi “isixuku esikhulu” sesAmbulo 7:9-17 sasiyiqembu elalizobonakala “ngemva” kokuqoqwa kwabangu-144 000 nelinethemba lokuphila okumi phakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi. Ngemva kokumveza ngokucacile uJesu ogcotshiwe, uJohane uMbhapathizi, oyovuselwa emhlabeni njengomunye ‘wezinye izimvu,’ wathi ngoMesiya: “Yena kumelwe aqhubeke anda, kodwa mina kumelwe ngiqhubeke ngincipha.” (Johane 1:29; 3:30; 10:16; Mathewu 11:11) Umsebenzi kaJohane uMbhapathizi wokulungiselela abafundi uMesiya wawusuphela njengoba uJesu abe esethatha izintambo wazikhethela yena inani elandayo elaliyoba yingxenye yabangu-144 000. Ngawo-1930 isimo sashintsha. Inani elinciphayo ‘labizwa futhi lakhethwa’ kwabangu-144 000, kwase kuqala ukwanda okukhulu enanini ‘lesixuku esikhulu’ ‘sezinye izimvu.’ Lesi sixuku esikhulu siyaqhubeka sanda njengoba isimiso salelizwe elibi sisondela ekupheleni kwaso e-Armagedoni.—IsAmbulo 17:14b.

18. (a) Kungani singalindela ngokuqiniseka ukuthi “izigidi eziphilayo manje azisoze zafa”? (b) Kungani kufanele silalele uHagayi 2:4 ngentshiseko?

¹⁸ Ekuqaleni kwawo-1920, inkulumo yeningi evelele eyayinikezwa oFakazi BakaJehova yayinesihloko esithi “Izigidi Eziphilayo Manje Azisoze Zafa.” Kungenzeka ukuthi ngaleso sikhathi lokhu kwabonisa ukweqisa kulokho ababekulindele. Kodwa namuhla lamazwi angashiwo ngokuqiniseka okukhulu. Kokubili ukukhanya okwandayo ngeziprofetho zeBhayibheli nesiphithiphithi salelizwe elifayo kubonisa ngokucacile ukuthi ukuphela kwesimiso sikaSathane kuseduze kakhulu! Umbiko weSikhumbuzo ka-1996 ubonisa ukuthi kunabangu-12 921 933 ababa khona, phakathi kwabo kunabangu-8 757 (amaphesenti angu-,068) kuphela ababonisa ithemba labo lasezulwini ngokuhlanganyela ezifanekiselweni. Sekuseduze ukuba ukubuyiselwa kokukhulekela kweqiniso kuphothulwe. Kodwa masingalokothi siyekethise kulowo msebenzi. Yebo, uHagayi 2:4 uthi: “Niqine nonke nina-bantu bezwe, usho uJehova, nisebenze ngokuba nginani, usho uJehova [wamabutho].” Kwangathi singazimisela ukuba kungabi nakuthambekela kokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo noma komoya wezwe okuyonciphisa intshiseko yethu ngomsebenzi kaJehova!—1 Johane 2:15-17.

19. Singahlanganyela kanjani ekugcwalisekeni kukaHagayi 2:6, 7?

¹⁹ Liyajabulisa ilungelo lethu lokuhlanganyela ekugcwalisekeni kosuku lwanamuhla kuka-Hagayi 2:6, 7: “Usho kanje uJehova [wamabutho], uthi: Kusezakuba-yisikhashana nje ngizamazamisa amazulu nomhlaba, nolwandle, nomhlabathi owomileyo, ngizamazamise nabo bonke abezizwe, kufike okunxanelekayo kwabo bonke abezizwe, ngiyigcwalise lendlu ngenkazimulo, usho uJehova [wamabutho].” Ukuhaha, ukonakala, nenzondo kudlangile kulo lonke lelizwe lekhulu lama-20. Ngempela lisezinsukwini zalo zokugcina, futhi uJehova useqalile kakade ‘ukulizamazamisa’ ngokwenza ukuba oFakazi bakhe ‘bamemezele usuku lwakhe lokuphindisela.’ (Isaya 61:2) Lokhu kuzamazamisa okuyisandulela kuyofinyelela umvuthwandaba ngokubhujiswa kwalelizwe e-Armagedoni, kodwa ngaphambi kwaleso sikhathi, uJehova udonsela enkonzweni yakhe “okunxanelekayo kwabo bonke abezizwe”—abantu bomhlaba abathobekile, abanjengezimvu. (Johane 6:44) Lesi “sixuku esikhulu” manje ‘sinikela inkonzo engcwele’ egcekeni lasemhlabeni lendlu yakhe yokukhulekela.—IsAmbulo 7:9, 15.

20. Ingatholakalaphi ingcebo eyigugu kunayo yonke?

²⁰ Inkonzo ethempelini likaJehova elingokomoya iletha inzuzo eyigugu kakhulu kunanoma iyiphi ingcebo yezinto ezibonakalayo. (IzAga 2:1-6; 3:13, 14; Mathewu 6:19-21) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uHagayi 2:9 uthi: “Inkazimulo yokugcina yalendlu iyakuba-nkulu kuneyokuqala, usho uJehova [wamabutho], nginike ukuthula kulendawo, usho uJehova [wamabutho].” Lamazwi asho ukuthini kithi namuhla? Isihloko sethu esilandelayo sizositshela.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

Imibuzo Yokubukeza

◻ Yisiphi isibonelo sabaprofethi okufanele sisilandele ngokuqondene negama likaJehova?

◻ Yisiphi isikhuthazo esisitholayo esigijimini sikaJehova esinamandla ku-Israyeli obuyiselwe?

◻ Yiliphi ithempeli elingokomoya elikhazimulayo elisebenzayo namuhla?

◻ Yikuphi ukubuthwa okuye kwenzeka ngokulandelana phakathi nekhulu le-19 nelama-20, ngombono waliphi ithemba elihle?

[Izithombe ekhasini 7]

Amabutho kaJehova asezulwini aqondisa futhi asekele oFakazi bakhe emhlabeni