1, 2. Sisiphi esona siganeko sikhulu esenzeka kwimbali yehlabathi, yaye kutheni ingamangalisi nje into yokuba singazange sibonwe ngabantu?

 NGABA ukhe uzibuze ukuba kwakunokuba njani xa ubuphila ngexesha laxa kutshintsha izinto embalini yoluntu? Abaninzi bakhe bazibuze. Kodwa khawucinge ngoku: Ukuba wawuphila ngelo xesha libalulekileyo, ngaba wawuza kuzibonela ezona zinto zabangela olo tshintsho? Mhlawumbi wawungenakuzibona. Izinto ezibonisa ukuphela kolawulo nezizalisa iincwadi zembali zisoloko zisenzeka emfihlekweni. Ngelivakalayo, izinto ezininzi ezenzekayo embalini zenzeka kumagumbi olawulo nakwiiofisi zikarhulumente. Sekunjalo, zichaphazela ubomi babantu abaninzi.

² Kuthekani ngesona siganeko sikhulu esiye senzeka kwimbali yehlabathi? Eso siganeko siye sabangela umdla kubantu abaninzi, nakuba senzeke emfihlekweni. Isiganeko esithetha ngaso apha kukuzalwa koBukumkani bukaThixo ezulwini, urhulumente olawulwa nguMesiya oza kuyiphelisa ngokukhawuleza yonke inkqubo yeli hlabathi. (Funda uDaniyeli 2:34, 35, 44, 45.) Ekubeni abantu bengakhange basibone eso siganeko sibalulekileyo sokuzalwa koBukumkani, ngaba sinokugqiba ngelithi uYehova wasifihla kuluntu? Okanye ngaba walungisa abantu bakhe ngaphambi kokuba senzeke? Makhe sibone.

3-5. (a) Yayingubani ‘umthunywa womnqophiso’ ekuthethwa ngaye kuMalaki 3:1? (b) Yintoni eyayiza kwenzeka ngaphambi kokuba ‘umthunywa womnqophiso’ eze etempileni?

³ Ukususela kumaxesha amandulo, uYehova wayenenjongo yokulungisa abantu bakhe ukuze balungele ukuzalwa koBukumkani bukaMesiya. Ngokomzekelo, khawucinge ngesi siprofeto sikuMalaki 3:1: “Khangela! Ndithumela umthunywa wam, yaye umele ahlahle indlela phambi kwam. Iya kuza ngequbuliso etempileni Yayo, iNkosi yokwenyaniso, leyo niyifunayo, engumthunywa womnqophiso eniyoliswayo nguye.”

⁴ Kweli xesha lethu, uYehova “iNkosi yokwenyaniso” weza nini ukuza kuhlola abo babekhonza kwintendelezo esemhlabeni yetempile yakhe? Esi siprofeto sithi uYehova wayeza kuza ‘nomthunywa womnqophiso.’ Yayingubani lowo? Akakho omnye ngaphandle koKumkani onguMesiya, uYesu Kristu!  (Luka 1:68-73) NjengoMlawuli owayesandul’ ukubekwa esihlalweni, wayeza kuhlola aze acoce abantu bakaThixo abasemhlabeni.—1 Pet. 4:17.

⁵ Yayingubani ke “umthunywa” wokuqala, lowo kuthethwe ngaye kuMalaki 3:1? Lo mntu kuprofetwe ngaye umele ukuba wayesele ekho ngaphambi kokuba afike uKumkani onguMesiya. Kwiminyaka elishumi ngaphambi ko-1914, ngaba ukho umntu ‘owahlahla indlela’ ngaphambi kokuba afike uKumkani onguMesiya?

 6. Ngubani owaba ‘ngumthunywa’ wokuqala owalungiselela abantu bakaThixo iziganeko ezaziza kubakho?

⁶ Kuyo yonke le ncwadi, siza kufumana iimpendulo zale mibuzo kwimbali evuyisayo yabantu bakaYehova kweli xesha lethu. Le mbali ibonisa ukuba ekupheleni kweminyaka yee-1800, iqaqobana labantu abathembekileyo labonakala ililo kuphela elingamaKristu okwenyaniso phakathi kwentlaninge yabantu ababezibiza ngokuba ngamaKristu. Eli qaqobana laziwa ngokuba ngaBafundi BeBhayibhile. Abo babekhokela—uCharles T. Russell nezinxulumani zakhe—babenguloo ‘mthunywa’ kwakuprofetwe ngaye, bekhokela abantu bakaThixo kwiimfundiso zobuthixo yaye bebenza balungele iziganeko ezaziseza kwenzeka. Makhe siqwalasele iindlela ezine awakwenza ngayo oku lo ‘mthunywa.’

7, 8. (a) Kwiminyaka yee-1800, ngoobani abaqalisa ukubhenca ubuxoki bemfundiso yomphefumlo ongafiyo? (b) Ziziphi ezinye iimfundiso zobuxoki ezabhencwa nguC. T. Russell nezinxulumani zakhe?

⁷ Abo Bafundi BeBhayibhile bayifundisisa ngokunyanisekileyo iBhayibhile yaye bethandaza; bavumelana, baqokelela baza basasaza iimfundiso ezichanileyo zayo. Kangangeminyaka emininzi, iNgqobhoko ibingazi nowathwethwa ngeemfundiso zeBhayibhile; iimfundiso zayo ezininzi bezisekelwe kubuhedeni. Owona mzekelo ubalaseleyo ngowemfundiso yomphefumlo ongafiyo. Kwiminyaka yee-1800, iqaqobana labafundi beBhayibhile abanyanisekileyo layihlolisisa le mfundiso laza labona ukuba ayifumaneki kwiLizwi likaThixo. UHenry Grew, uGeorge Stetson noGeorge Storrs babhala ngale mfundiso yobuxoki kaSathana baza bayibhenca ngesibindi. a Oko kwaba negalelo elikhulu kuC. T. Russell nezinxulumani zakhe.

⁸ Iqaqobana laBafundi BeBhayibhile lafumanisa ukuba kukho nezinye iimfundiso ezihamba nale yomphefumlo ongafiyo ezazixaka nezazibubuxoki—ngokomzekelo, imfundiso yokuba bonke abantu abalungileyo baya ezulwini okanye uThixo uthuthumbisa imiphefumlo yabantu abangendawo esihogweni. URussell nezinxulumani zakhe babubhenca ngesibindi obo buxoki kumanqaku, iincwadi, amaphecana ahlukahlukeneyo nakwiintshumayelo zabo.

 9. IMboniselo yayibhenca njani imfundiso kaThixo Oneziqu Ezithathu ibubuxoki?

⁹ Ngokufanayo, aBafundi BeBhayibhile bayibhenca ibubuxoki imfundiso esasazekileyo kaThixo Oneziqu Ezithathu. Ngo-1887, iMboniselo yathi: “IZibhalo zitsho phandle ukuba uYehova neNkosi yethu uYesu ngabantu ababini zize zicacise  ulwalamano lwabo.” Emva koko eli nqaku lachaza indlela emangalisa ngayo into yokuba “imfundiso kaThixo oneziqu ezithathu—ooThixo abathathu kuThixo omnye, iye yasasazeka yaza yamkelwa kangaka. Loo nto ibonisa indlela ezazikobude ngayo ubuthongo iicawa xa zazirhintyelwa lutshaba ngezi mfundiso zobuxoki.”

10. IMboniselo yabonisa njani ukuba u-1914 ngunyaka obalulekileyo?

¹⁰ Njengoko umxholo wayo ubonisa, imagazini iZion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence yayithetha kakhulu ngeziprofeto ezazibonisa ubukho bukaKristu. Ababhali bayo abathanjisiweyo nabathembekileyo babona ukuba isiprofeto sikaDaniyeli esiphathelele “amaxesha asixhenxe” sithetha ngexesha lokuzaliseka kwenjongo kaThixo engoBukumkani bukaMesiya. Bachaza kwakwiminyaka yee-1870 ukuba loo mihla iya kuphela ngo-1914. (Dan. 4:25; Luka 21:24) Nangona abazalwana ababephila ngelo xesha babengekakuqondi ngokupheleleyo okwakuza kwenzeka kuloo nyaka, bakuvakalisa ngokubanzi oko babekwazi yaye imiphumo yoko babekutsho isabonakala nanamhlanje.

11, 12. (a) Ngubani owazukiswa nguMzalwan’ uRussell ngezinto awayezifundisa? (b) Wawubaluleke kangakanani umsebenzi kaRussell noogxa bakhe kumashumi eminyaka ngaphambi ko-1914?

 ¹¹ URussell nezinxulumani zakhe abazange bafune ukuzukiswa ngenxa yokuba befumene ezo nyaniso zeBhayibhile. Yena wancoma ababengaphambi kwakhe. Ngaphezu kwako konke, wazukisa uYehova uThixo, lowo ufundisa abantu oko bafanele bakwazi ngexesha elifanelekileyo. Kucacile ukuba uYehova wayisikelela imigudu kaRussell noogxa bakhe yokuhluza inyani kubuxoki. Njengoko iminyaka yayihamba, baya besahluka ngokupheleleyo kwiNgqobhoko.

¹² Wawumangalisa ngokwenene umsebenzi waloo madoda athembekileyo wokulwela iimfundiso zeBhayibhile kumashumi eminyaka ngaphambi ko-1914! Xa sikhangela emva, iThe Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence kaNovemba 1, 1917, yathi: “Namhlanje izigidi zabantu ziye zakhululeka kuloyiko lwesihogo nezinye iimfundiso zobuxoki . . . Amaza Enyaniso, awaqalisa ukubakho kwiminyaka engaphezu kwamashumi amane, asaqhubeka ekhula yaye aya kwenjenjalo de azalise umhlaba; yaye abachasi basenokuzama ukuwatshayela loo maza makhulu ukuze iNyaniso ingasasazeki ehlabathini.”

13, 14. (a) ‘Umthunywa’ wayilungisa njani indlela yoKumkani onguMesiya? (b) Yintoni esinokuyifunda kubazalwana bethu abaye baphila kwiminyaka engaphezu kwekhulu edlulileyo?

¹³ Khawucinge ngoku: Ngaba abantu bebeya kukulungela ukuqalisa kobukho bukaKristu ukuba bebengamohluli uYesu kuYise, uYehova? Bebengasoze! Bebengayi kukulungela naxa bebecinga ukuba bonke abantu ngokuzenzekelayo bafumana ubomi bokungafi nangona busisipho esixabisekileyo esinikwa iqaqobana labalandeli bakaKristu; kwakhona bebengazi kukulungela ukuba bebecinga ukuba uThixo uthuthumbisa abantu esihogweni ngonaphakade! Alithandabuzeki elokuba ‘umthunywa’ wayilungisa indlela yoKumkani onguMesiya!

¹⁴ Kuthekani ngathi namhlanje? Yintoni esinokuyifunda kubazalwana bethu abaye baphila kwiminyaka engaphezu kwekhulu edlulileyo? Ngokufana nabo, kufuneka sibe ngabafundi beLizwi likaThixo abanenzondelelo. (Yoh. 17:3) Njengoko eli hlabathi lithe phithi zizinto eziphathekayo lisiya lithwaxwa yindlala kulwazi lweBhayibhile, ngamana thina singaya sizondla ngakumbi ngeemfundiso zeLizwi likaThixo!—Funda eyoku-1 kuTimoti 4:15.

15. Yintoni abaya beyiqonda aBafundi BeBhayibhile? (Funda nombhalo osemazantsi.)

¹⁵ ABafundi BeBhayibhile bafundisa ukuba kufuneka kuphunywe kwiicawa zehlabathi. Ngo-1879, iMboniselo yathetha “ngecawa yaseBhabhiloni.” Ngaba yayithetha ngoopopu? NgeCawa YamaRoma Katolika? Kangangeminyaka iicawa zamaProtestanti zazisithi iBhabhiloni ekuprofetwe ngayo kwiZibhalo ibhekisela kwiCawa yamaKatolika. Noko ke, aBafundi BeBhayibhile baqonda ukuba zonke iicawa zeNgqobhoko ‘ziyiBhabhiloni’ yanamhlanje. Ngoba? Kuba zonke zazifundisa ubuxoki obufana nobo sithethe ngabo ngasentla. b Ekuhambeni kwexesha, iimpapasho zethu zaya zithetha ngokungqalileyo  ngoko kufanele kwenziwe ngamalungu anyanisekileyo eecawa zeBhabhiloni.

16, 17. (a) UMqulu III weMillennial Dawn neMboniselo wababongoza njani abantu ukuba baphume kunqulo lobuxoki? (b) Yintoni eyafak’ isandla ekuqinisweni kwezo zilumkiso zangaphambili? (Funda umbhalo osemazantsi.)

¹⁶ Ngokomzekelo, ngo-1891, uMqulu III weMillennial Dawn wathetha ngokulahla kukaThixo iBhabhiloni yanamhlanje ibe wathi: “Yonke inkqubo yayo ilahliwe.” Wongezelela ngelithi bonke abo “bangazamkeliyo iimfundiso nezenzo zayo zobuxoki kuthiwa mabazahlule kuyo.”

¹⁷ NgoJanuwari 1900, iMboniselo yaluleka abo amagama abo ayesabhalwe kwiincwadi zeecawa zeNgqobhoko nabazithethelela ngelithi, “Ndiyayixhasa inyaniso, yaye ndiya manqapha-nqapha ecaweni.” Eli nqaku labuza: “Kodwa ngaba oku kulungile—ukungaphumi ngokupheleleyo eBhabhiloni? Ngaba le nto ibonisa ukuba uyamthobela uThixo . . . yaye yena uyakholiswa koko ukwenzayo? Ngokuqinisekileyo akunjalo. Ilungu lecawa lenza umnqophiso necawa yalo xa lalingena kuyo, yaye limele liphile ngazo zonke iindlela zayo de . . . litsho esidlangalaleni ukuba liyayishiya loo cawa.” Kangangeminyaka, eso siluleko saya siqina. c Abakhonzi bakaYehova bamele baluqhawule lonke unxibelelwano nonqulo lobuxoki.

18. Kwakutheni ukuze kufuneke ukuba abantu baphume kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu?

¹⁸ Ukuba ezo zilumkiso zokuphuma kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu zazingakhange zivakaliswe rhoqo, ngaba uKristu, njengoKumkani osandul’ ukumiselwa wayeza kuba nabo abakhonzi abathanjisiweyo emhlabeni? Ngokuqinisekileyo wayengazi kuba nabo, kuba ngamaKristu akhululekileyo eBhabhiloni kuphela anokunqula uYehova “ngomoya nenyaniso.” (Yoh. 4:24) Ngaba nathi namhlanje sizimisele ukuhlala singenanto isidibanisa nonqulo lobuxoki? Masihlale siwuthobela umyalelo othi: “Phumani kuyo, bantu bam”!—Funda iSityhilelo 18:4.

19, 20. IMboniselo yabakhuthaza njani abantu bakaThixo ukuba bahlanganisane kunye ukuze banqule?

¹⁹ ABafundi BeBhayibhile bafundisa ukuba amaKristu okwenyaniso amele ahlanganisane ukuze anqule, xa iimeko zivuma. Ukuba ngumKristu wokwenyaniso akuphelelanga nje ekuphumeni kunqulo lobuxoki, kodwa kubalulekile nokuba abe kunqulo olunyulu. Kwakumanqaku ayo okuqala, iMboniselo yakhuthaza abafundi ukuba bahlanganisane ukuze banqule. Ngokomzekelo, ngoJulayi 1880, xa wayeye kunikela intetho kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo, uMzalwan’ uRussell wachaza indlela eziye zakhuthaza ngayo iintlanganiso ezininzi. Emva koko wabongoza abafundi ukuba bathumele amakhadi anengxelo yenkqubela abayenzileyo—ezinye zezo ngxelo zabhalwa kwiimagazini. Ukusa kuwuphi umkhamo? “Sonke masiyazi . . . indlela iNkosi enenza niphumelele ngayo; nokuba niqhubeka nihlanganisana nabo banokholo olufana nolwenu.”

²⁰ IMboniselo ka-1882 yayinenqaku elithi “Assembling Together [Ukuhlanganisana].” Eli nqaku labongoza amaKristu ukuba ahlanganisane ukuze “akhuthazane aze omelezane.” Lathi:  “Akukhathaliseki nokuba akukho mntu ufundileyo okanye unobuchule bento ethile phakathi kwenu. Ngamnye wenu makeze neBhayibhile yakhe, iphepha nento yokubhala nize niyisebenzise kangangoko ninako iConcordance. Khethani umxholo eniwuthandayo; nicele uMoya ukuba unincede niyiqonde indlela efundwa ngayo; yifundeni, nicinge ngoko nikufundayo, thelekisani izibhalo yaye ukuba nenjenjalo, niya kuyiqonda inyaniso.”

21. Nguwuphi umzekelo owamiselwa libandla laseAllegheny, ePennsylvania, ngeentlanganiso nokwalusa?

²¹ Ikomkhulu laBafundi BeBhayibhile laliseAllegheny, ePennsylvania, eMerika. Apho bamisela umzekelo omhle ngokuhlanganisana kunye bethobela umyalelo ophefumlelweyo okumaHebhere 10:24, 25. (Wufunde.) Kwiminyaka kamva, umzalwana osel’ ekhulile, uCharles Capen, wakhumbula ngexesha laxa wayesiya kwezo ntlanganiso eseyinkwenkwe. Wabhala: “Ndisasikhumbula esinye sezibhalo esasiseludongeni lweholo yoMbutho. ‘Inye iNkosi yenu, uKristu; nina nonke ningabazalwana.’ Eso sibhalo sasisoloko sinkentenza engqondweni yam—akukho befundisi namarhamente phakathi kwabantu bakaYehova.”  (Mat. 23:8) UMzalwan’ uCapen wakhumbula nendlela ezazichukumisa nezazikhuthaza ngayo ezo ntlanganiso, nemigudu eyayisenziwa nguMzalwan’ uRussell yokwalusa bonke abazalwana noodade abasebandleni.

22. Yintoni eyenziwa ngabantu abathembekileyo emva kokuba bekhuthazelwe ukuya kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu, yaye sinokufunda ntoni kubo?

²² Abantu abathembekileyo bawulandela lo mzekelo nalo myalelo. Kwamiselwa amabandla nakwamanye amaphondo afana naseOhio naseMichigan, yaye emva koko kulo lonke elakuMntla Merika nakwezinye iindawo. Khawucinge ngoku: Ngaba abantu abathembekileyo babeza kubulungela ubukho bukaKristu ukuba babengaqeqeshelwanga ukuthobela umyalelo ophefumlelweyo wokuhlanganisana ukuze sinqule? Babengenakubulungela! Kuthekani ngathi namhlanje? Nathi simele sizimisele ukuya rhoqo kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu, siwasebenzise onke amathuba amisiweyo okuhlanganisana ukuze sakhane.

23. IMboniselo yawucacisa njani umba wokuba bonke abathanjiswa bamele babe ngabashumayeli benyaniso?

²³ ABafundi BeBhayibhile bafundisa ukuba bonke abathanjiswa bamele babe ngabashumayeli benyaniso. Ngo-1885, iMboniselo yathi: “Imele ihlale inkenteza ezingqondweni zethu into yokuba bonke abantu abathanjisiweyo bathanjiselwe ukuba bashumayele (Isa. 61:1), baye entsimini.” Eka-1888 yayinesi sibongozo: “Sithunywe into ecacileyo . . . Ukuba asiyenzi size sizithethelele, ngokuqinisekileyo singabakhonzi abangamavila, sizingqina singasifanelekelanga isikhundla esiphakamileyo esibizelwe kuso.”

24, 25. (a) Yintoni enye eyenziwa nguRussell nezinxulumani zakhe ukuze bakhuthaze abantu ukuba bashumayele? (b) Enye icolporteur yathini ngomsebenzi eyayiwenza nakubeni “iimoto zazinqabile”?

 ²⁴ UMzalwan’ uRussell nezinxulumani zakhe abazange banele nje ukukhuthaza abantu ukuba bashumayele. Baqalisa ukwenza amaphecana awayebizwa ngokuba yiBible Students’ Tracts, awaphinda abizwa ngokuba yiOld Theology Quarterly. Ekuwafumaneni kwabo abafundi beMboniselo la maphecana, bawasasaza ngaphandle kwentlawulo.

²⁵ Abo babezinikele ixesha elizeleyo kumsebenzi wokushumayela babebizwa ngokuba ziicolporteurs. Omnye wabo yayinguCharles Capen, ekuthethwe ngaye ngaphambili. Uthi: “Ndandisebenzisa iimaphu ezazenziwe yiUnited States Government Geological Survey ukuze ndikwazi ukuwugubungela wonke umhlaba wam ePennsylvania. Ezi maphu zazibonisa iindlela, zisenza kube lula ukufikelela yonke imimandla ngeenyawo. Maxa wambi emva kweentsuku ezintathu ndityhubele lonke ilizwe yaye ndithatha iiodolo zemiqulu yeStudies in the Scriptures, ndandiye ndiqeshe ihashe nenqwelo yalo ukuze ndizise ebantwini bazo. Ndandidla ngokuchitha ubusuku kubalimi. Iimoto zazinqabile ngaloo mihla.”

26. (a) Kwakutheni ukuze abantu bakaThixo kufuneke bashumayele ukuze balungele ulawulo lukaKristu? (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo esenza kakuhle xa sizibuza yona?

²⁶ Ngokuqinisekileyo ngaloo maxesha kwakufuneka isibindi nenzondelelo kulo msebenzi wokushumayela. Ngaba amaKristu okwenyaniso ayeza kululungela ulawulo lukaKristu ukuba ayengazange afundiswe ukubaluleka komsebenzi wokushumayela? Ngokuqinisekileyo ayengazi kululungela! Ngaphezu koko, nguloo msebenzi owawuza kubonisa ubukho bukaKristu. (Mat. 24:14) Kwakufuneka abantu bakaThixo bakulungele ukuwenza ube yeyona nto iphambili ebomini babo lo msebenzi ubalulekileyo wokusindisa ubomi. Namhlanje, senza kakuhle xa sizibuza oku: ‘Ngaba umsebenzi wokushumayela uyeyona nto iphambili ebomini bam? Ngaba kukho izinto endizincamayo ukuze ndiwenze ngokupheleleyo lo msebenzi?’

27, 28. Yintoni eyabonwa ngumpostile uYohane embonweni, yaye yintoni eyenziwa nguSathana needemon xa kwakuzalwa uBukumkani?

²⁷ Ekugqibeleni, wafika unyaka ka-1914 owaba yimbali. Njengoko besitshilo ekuqaleni kwesi sahluko, akakho umntu owazibonayo iziganeko ezivuyisayo ezazisenzeka ezulwini. Sekunjalo, umpostile uYohane waboniswa umbono owawuzichaza ngokufuziselayo. Khawube nalo mfanekiso-ngqondweni: UYohane ubona “umqondiso omkhulu” ezulwini. “Umfazi” kaThixo—intlangano yakhe yezidalwa ezingabonakaliyo ezulwini—umithi yaye uzala umntwana oyinkwenkwe. Lo mntwana wokomfuziselo, kuthiwa kungekudala uza “kuzalusa zonke iintlanga ngentonga yentsimbi.” Kodwa xa ezalwa, lo mntwana ‘uthatyathelwa kuThixo nakwitrone yakhe.’ Kuvakala ilizwi elikhulu ezulwini lisithi: “Ngoku lufikile usindiso namandla nobukumkani boThixo wethu negunya likaKristu wakhe.”—ISityhi. 12:1, 5, 10.

 ²⁸ Alithandabuzeki elokuba uYohane wabona umbono wokuzalwa koBukumkani bukaMesiya. Ngokuqinisekileyo esi siganeko esivuyisayo, kodwa asizange sivuyise wonke umntu. USathana needemon zakhe balwa neengelosi ezithembekileyo, ezazikhokelwa nguMikayeli, okanye uKristu. Waba yintoni umphumo? Sifunda oku: “Ngoko yaphoswa phantsi inamba enkulu, inyoka yantlandlolo, leyo ibizwa ngokuba nguMtyholi, noSathana, lowo ulahlekisa umhlaba omiweyo uphela; waphoswa phantsi emhlabeni, neengelosi zakhe zaphoswa phantsi kunye naye.”—ISityhi. 12:7, 9.

29, 30. Emva kokuzalwa koBukumkani bukaMesiya, kwenzeka ntoni (a) emhlabeni? (b) ezulwini?

²⁹ Kwakudala ngaphambi ko-1914, aBafundi BeBhayibhile bathi loo nyaka uphawulekayo wawuza kuba lixesha lokuqala kweentlungu. Kodwa abazange bawuqonde umkhamo ezaziza kwenzeka ngawo. Njengoko uYohane waboniswayo, uSathana wayeza kwenza izinto ezilothusayo uluntu: “Yeha kuwo umhlaba nakulo ulwandle, ngenxa yokuba uhlile weza kuni uMtyholi, enomsindo omkhulu, esazi ukuba ixesha analo lifutshane.” (ISityhi. 12:12) Ngo-1914, kwaqalisa imfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala yaye umqondiso wobukho bukaKristu engukumkani waqalisa ukubonakala ehlabathini lonke. Kwaqalisa ‘imihla yokugqibela’ yale nkqubo.—2 Tim. 3:1.

³⁰ Sekunjalo, ezulwini yayiyimincili yodwa. USathana needemon zakhe babegxothwe ngonaphakade, bengasoze baphinde babuyele. Ingxelo kaYohane ifundeka ngolu hlobo: “Ngoko chulumancani, nina mazulu nani nihlala kuwo!” (ISityhi. 12:12) Ekubeni amazulu ayecociwe yaye uYesu ebekwe etroneni njengoKumkani, ngoku uBukumkani bukaMesiya babulungele ukunceda abantu bakaThixo abasemhlabeni. Babuza kwenza ntoni? Njengoko sesibonile ekuqaleni kwesi sahluko, uKristu, ‘umthunywa womnqophiso,’ wayeza kuqala acoce abakhonzi bakaThixo abasemhlabeni. Kwakuthetha ntoni oko?

31. Waprofeta wathini uMalaki ngexesha lokucocwa, yaye sazaliseka njani eso siprofeto? (Funda nombhalo osemazantsi.)

³¹ UMalaki waprofeta wathi ixesha lokucocwa laliza kuba nzima. Wathi: “Ngubani na oya kuyinyamezela imini yokuza kwakhe, yaye ngubani na oya kuma xa ebonakala? Kuba uya kuba njengomlilo womsulungekisi nanjengesoda yomcoci weempahla.” (Mal. 3:2) Angqineka echane ngokwenene loo mazwi! Ekuqaleni ko-1914, abantu bakaThixo abasemhlabeni bajamelana neemvavanyo nobunzima obukhulu, obunye emva kobunye. Njengoko iMfazwe Yehlabathi I yayisiya iqina, aBafundi BeBhayibhile abaninzi batshutshiswa ngokukrakra bephoswa ngaphaya kwezitshixo. d

32. Nguwuphi umbhodamo owenzeka kubantu bakaThixo emva ko-1916?

³² Kwabakho umbhodamo nakwintlangano. Ngo-1916, uMzalwan’ uRussell wafa eneminyaka eyi-64, eshiya abantu bakaThixo abaninzi bothukile. Ukufa kwakhe kwabonisa ukuba  abaninzi babejonge kwindoda enye engumzekelo. Nangona uMzalwan’ uRussell wayengafuni ukuzukiswa ngolo hlobo, abanye babemnqula. Abaninzi bacinga ukuba ukutyhilwa kwenyaniso kwakuza kuphela xa efile, yaye abanye abazange bayamkele imigudu eyayisenziwa yokuhambela phambili. Loo nto yabangela ukuba kubekho uwexuko olwenza kwabakho iyantlukwano entlanganweni.

33. Ukungenzeki kwezinto ababelindele ukuba ziza kwenzeka, kwaba luvavanyo njani kubantu bakaThixo?

³³ Olunye uvavanyo yaba kukungenzeki kwezinto ezazilindelwe. Nangona iMboniselo yayithe amaXesha Eentlanga ayeza kuphela ngo-1914, abazalwana babengekayiqondi into eyayiza kwenzeka ngaloo nyaka. (Luka 21:24) Babecinga ukuba ngo-1914, uKristu uza kuthathela ezulwini udidi lomtshakazi ukuze alawule kunye nalo. Yonke loo nto ayizange yenzeke. Ngo-1917, iMboniselo yathi iminyaka eyi-40 yokuvuna yayiza kuphela ngentwasahlobo ka-1918. Kodwa umsebenzi wokushumayela awuzange uphele. Waqhubeka uhambela phambili kwanasemva kokuba lidlulile elo xesha. Le magazini yathi ukuvuna kona kugqityiwe kodwa kusasele ixesha lokubhikica. Sekunjalo, abaninzi bayeka ukukhonza uYehova ngenxa yokuphoxeka.

34. Luluphi uvavanyo oloyikisayo olwenzeka ngo-1918, yaye kwakutheni ukuze iNgqobhoko icinge ukuba abantu bakaThixo “babefile”?

³⁴ U-1918 waba ngunyaka wovavanyo oloyikisayo. UJ. F. Rutherford, owangena ezihlangwini zikaC. T. Russell ekukhokeleni abantu bakaThixo, wavalelwa kunye nabanye abazalwana abasixhenxe ababekhokela. Bagwetywa iminyaka emininzi ngokungekho sikweni baza baya kuvalelwa kwintolongo yaseAtlanta, eGeorgia, eUnited States. Kangangexesha elithile umsebenzi wabantu bakaThixo wabonakala ngathi uyaxengaxenga. Oko kwavuyisa abafundisi beNgqobhoko abaninzi. Babecinga ukuba ekubeni “iinkokeli” zivalelwe, ikomkhulu eliseBrooklyn livaliwe, yaye umsebenzi wokushumayela uhlaselwa eMerika naseYurophu, abo Bafundi BeBhayibhile babehlupha “babefile”—bengaseyonkathazo. (ISityhi. 11:3, 7-10) Kwathi kanti batsho phantsi kwaqhum’ uthuli!

35. Kwakutheni ukuze uYesu avumele abalandeli bakhe bathwaxwe ziimvavanyo, yaye wabanceda njani?

³⁵ Iintshaba zenyaniso zazingazi ukuba uYesu wavumela abantu bakhe bathwaxwe zezo mvavanyo kuba uYehova wayehleli “njengomsulungekisi nomcoci wesilivere.” (Mal. 3:3) UYehova noNyana wakhe babeqinisekile ukuba abantu abathembekileyo babeza kuphuma kuloo mlilo weemvavanyo besulungekile, yaye bekulungele ngakumbi ukukhonza uKumkani. Ukususela ekuqaleni kuka-1919, kwacaca ukuba umoya kaThixo wenze oko iintshaba zabantu bakhe bezicinga ukuba akunakwenzeka. Abakhonzi abathembekileyo bavuselelwa! (ISityhi. 11:11) Ngelo xesha, uKristu wenza into ebalaseleyo ebonisa ukuba siphila kwimihla yokugqibela. Wamisela ‘ikhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi,’ iqaqobana labathanjiswa  elaliza kukhokela abantu bakhe ngokubanika ukutya kokomoya ngexesha elifanelekileyo.—Mat. 24:45-47.

36. Zintoni ezenziwa ngabantu bakaThixo ezazibonisa ukuba baphinde baqala apho babeyeke khona?

³⁶ UMzalwan’ uRutherford nezinxulumani zakhe bakhululwa entolongweni ngoMatshi 26, 1919. Ngokukhawuleza emva koko kwalungiselelwa indibano eyayiza kuba ngoSeptemba. Kwenziwa namalungiselelo emagazini entsha, eyayiza kubizwa ngokuba yiThe Golden Age. Yayiza kuba liqabane leMboniselo, elenzelwe ukuhanjiswa entsimini. e Kwangaloo nyaka kwakhutshwa inkupho yokuqala yeBulletin, ngoku ebizwa ngokuba yincwadi yeentlanganiso Yobomi BamaKristu Nomsebenzi Wokushumayela. Kwasekuqaleni, yaba luncedo kumsebenzi wokushumayela. Ngokungathandabuzekiyo, ukususela ngo-1919 ukusa phambili, ukushumayela kwindlu ngendlu kwaba yeyona nto iphambili.

37. Kwiminyaka esemva ko-1919, yintoni abayenzayo abanye eyabonisa ukuba babengathembekanga?

³⁷ Ukushumayela kwaqhubeka kubacoca abakhonzi bakaKristu, kuba abathile abanekratshi bakhukhumala ngenxa yokuba bengayamkeli into yokuba kufuneka bawenze lo msebenzi. Abo babengavumi ukuwenza bohlukana nabakhonzi abathembekileyo.  Kwiminyaka yasemva ko-1919, abanye ababengathembekanga bacaphuka baza bathetha kakubi benyelisa, bada bangakwicala labatshutshisi babakhonzi bakaYehova abathembekileyo.

38. Impumelelo noloyiso lwabalandeli bakaKristu emhlabeni zibangele ukuba siqiniseke ngantoni?

³⁸ Phezu kwazo nje ezo ntlaselo, abalandeli bakaKristu abasemhlabeni baqhubeka behambela phambili kumsebenzi kaThixo. Ukususela ngoko, inkqubela yabo nendlela ababesoyisa ngayo yabangela ukuba siqiniseke ukuba uBukumkani bukaThixo buyalawula! Yinkxaso nentsikelelo kaThixo kuphela—ayinikela ngoNyana wakhe nangoBukumkani bukaMesiya—enokubangela ukuba iqela labantu abangafezekanga limoyise kangaka uSathana nale nkqubo yezinto ingendawo!—Funda uIsaya 54:17.

39, 40. (a) Ziziphi ezinye izinto ekuza kuthethwa ngazo kule ncwadi? (b) Ukufunda kwakho le ncwadi kuza kukunceda entwenini?

³⁹ Kwizahluko ezilandelayo siza kuhlola oko kufezwe buBukumkani bukaThixo emhlabeni kwikhulu leminyaka ukususela ekuzalweni kwabo ezulwini. Icandelo ngalinye lale ncwadi liza kugubungela inkalo eyahlukileyo yomsebenzi woBukumkani owenziwa apha emhlabeni. Ibhokisi yempinda ekwisahluko ngasinye, iza kunceda ngamnye wethu aqonde ngakumbi ukuba uBukumkani buyinto yokwenene kuthi. Kwizahluko zokugqibela, siza kuxubusha ngento esimele siyilindele xa uBukumkani bufika buze kutshabalalisa ubungendawo uze lo mhlaba ube yiparadesi. Ukufunda kwakho le ncwadi kuza kukunceda entwenini?

⁴⁰ USathana ufuna ukuba uyeke ukuba nokholo kuBukumkani bukaThixo. Kodwa uYehova ufuna ukulomeleza ukholo lwakho ukuze lukukhusele luze lukuqinise. (Efe. 6:16) Ngoko ke, siyakubongoza ukuba uyifunde ngokunyanisekileyo le ncwadi. Hlala uzibuza oku, ‘Ngaba uBukumkani bukaThixo buyinto yokwenene kum?’ Okukhona busiba yinto yokwenene kuwe ngoku, kokukhona uya kubuxhasa ngokuthembeka, de kube lixesha laxa wonke umntu ophilayo eya kubona ukuba uBukumkani bukaThixo buyinto yokwenene yaye buyalawula!