Isahluko 6 — Umyalezo Nabathunywa

GSAM 108.1Bhala umbono, uwubhale ngokucacileyo emacwecweni, ukuze abafundayo bakwazi ukubaleka. Kuba umbono uselixesha elimisiweyo, kodwa ekupheleni kwexesha uya kuthetha, akayi kuxoka: nokuba ulibazisa, linda wona; kuba ngokuqinisekileyo uya kufika, akayi kulibazisa.¹

GSAM 108.2“Ndaza ndabona esinye isithunywa sibhabha esazulwini, siphethe iindaba ezilungileyo zaphakade, ukuba sivakalisele abo bahlala emhlabeni, nentlanga nganye, nezizwe, noluthetho, nabantu, sisithi ngelizwi elikhulu, Yoyikani uThixo, nimnike uzuko; kuba ifikile iyure yokugweba kwakhe: nize nimkhuleke lowo wenzayo izulu nomhlaba, ulwandle nemithombo yamanzi.”²

GSAM 108.3Abo banikezela ngesaziso sokubuya kwakhe bathi lo “mbono” onexesha lawo “lamiselweyo”, okhankanywe ngumprofeti Habhakuki, ubandakanya imibono yeziprofeto zikaDaniyeli nezikaTyhileli. Le nto bayenza yacaca kakhulu kwiinkcazelo zabo kwiitshati zabo zesiprofeto, kangangokuba lowo wayefunda ingcaciso wayenokuthi “abaleke” aze adlulisele olu lwazi kwabanye.

GSAM 108Umyalezo Oqinisekileyo

GSAM 108.4Isibhengezo sabantu bama-Adventist asizange sibe sisibhengezo nje esenziwa nguPawulos phambi koFelix, esithi, “Ubulungisa, ukuzithiba, kunye nomgwebo ozayo;” kwaye asizange sibe yingxelo eyenziwa nguMartin Luther, emva kokuba egqibile ukuguqulela iBhayibhile, xa, kwisithuba esifutshane phambi kokusweleka kwakhe, kwaxelwa ukuba wathi, “Ndiqinisekile ukuba umgwebo akukude; ewe, ukuba iNkosi ngokwayo ayiyi kuhlala ingekho ngaphezu kweminyaka engamakhulu amathathu.” Kwakungeyiyo nengxelo kaJohn Wesley, xa wathi “wacinga ukuba i-millennium ingaqala malunga neminyaka elikhulu.” Ama-Adventist ayebanga ukuba anikezela ngomyalezo obonakaliswe kwiSityhilelo 14:6, 7, “Lufikile ixesha lokugweba kwakhe,” kunye nokukhwaza kweSityhilelo 10:6, “Akusayi kubakho xesha ngoku.” Isiprofeto esinjalo besingenakuzalisekiswa sisaziso sesiganeko “esizayo,” esiza “kwiminyaka ezingamakhulu amathathu,” okanye “kwiminyaka ezilikhulu,” kodwa ngexesha elichaziweyo, “seyifikile.” Umyalezo onjalo kanye, ngonqiniseko olunjalo kanye olufunwa zezi ziprofeto zingentla, wabhengezwa ngabantu bama-Adventist kwihlabathi lonke.

GSAM 109Ugwebo Ekubuyeni KukaKristu

GSAM 109.1Ngexesha eli myalezo wawusaziswa okokuqala, zonke iinkonzo zobuKristu zazikholelwa ukuba umgwebo uza kwenzeka ekubuyeni kukaKristu okwesibini. Ngoko ke abantu ababephantsi kwezo meko, bechaza umyalezo wokuba iye kwafika iyure yomgwebo, ngelixa bebambe loo mbono, ngokuyimfuneko babeya kubhengeza ukubuya kukaKristu okwesibini. Enyanisweni, into eyayinika amandla lo myalezo, kwaye yashukumisa kakhulu abantu, yayikukubhengezwa kwexesha elimisiweyo. Ekuqaleni bathi isiphelo sehlabathi siza kufika ngaxesha lithile ngexesha “lonyaka wamaYuda” ka-1843, kwaye eli xesha lalibandakanya ixesha eliphakathi komhla wama-21 kuMatshi 1843, nowama-21 kuMatshi 1844. Emva kokuba eli xesha lidlule, sifunda kwiMidnight Cry yonyaka ka-1844 ukuba umhla ochanekileyo wamiselwa njengowokuphela kwexesha lobubikezeli. Lo yayingumhla we-10 wenyanga yesixhenxe yamaYuda, owayengqamana no-Oktobha 22, 1844.

GSAM 109Ukubalwa kweeNtsuku ezingama-2300

GSAM 109.2Isiseko sexesha—u-1843—yayiziintsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu zikaDaniyeli 8. Kwakubhengezwa ukuba njengoko ezi “ntsuku” zazinxulumene neziprofeto apho izilwanyana zazikhethwa ukuba zimele iibukumkani, “iintsuku” kufuneka zisetyenziswe ngokomfuziselo ukumela iminyaka, ngokwe nkcazelo yeNkosi yexesha elingumfuziselo, njengoko inikwe kwiNumeri 14:34 nakuHezekile 4:5, 6; ukuba iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe—iintsuku ezingama-490—zikaDaniyeli 9 yayiza kuba yinxalenye yokuqala yeentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu, kwaye ezi zihlandlo zimbini zaqala kunye. Isiganeko esikwiDaniyeli 9, esaphawula ukuqala kweeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe, yayikukuthi “kuphumiswe umyalelo wokubuyisela nokwakha iJerusalem.” Loo myalelo waphuma ngonyaka wesixhenxe ka-Artakserxes Longimanus, ngo-457 B.C., njengoko kubhalwe kuEzira 7.

GSAM 110.1Ukuba le yayiyeyona ntsuku yokwenene yokuqala kweeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe kwabonakaliswa yinyaniso yokuba kwiiveki ezingamashumi amathandathu anesithoba kuphela—iminyaka engama-483—ukusukela ngo-457 B.C., okanye ngo-27 A.D., uKristu wabhaptizwa nguYohane waza waqala inkonzo yakhe, esithi, “Lifikile ixesha,”³ njl. Ukuqala kobulungiseleli bukaKristu, ngo-27 A.D., ukubethelwa kwakhe emnqamlezweni kwiminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha ukusukela ngaloo mhla, “phakathi [esazulwini] seveki [yamashumi asixhenxe],” ukuphela komsebenzi okhethekileyo phakathi kwamaYuda, ngonyaka wama-34 A.D., kunye nokuguquka okukhawulezileyo kukaSawuli, umpostile wamaHenthi, kwangqina ukuba iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe zaphela ngaloo mhla, kwaye ke ngoko zaqala ngonyaka we-457 B.C. Bawubala umba ngolu hlobo: Kwi-2300 susa i-457, kwaye kusala i-1843. Kwaye njengoko iminyaka engama-457 yayingaphambi kukaKristu, sifikelela ekupheleni kweentsuku ezingama-2300 ekupheleni konyaka ka-1843.

GSAM 110Izivumo Zabachasi

GSAM 110.2Kuye kwathiwa ngenyaniso ukuba “izivumo ezixhasa inyaniso ezivela kwabo bayichasayo zenza obona bungqina buqinisekileyo.” Akukho namnye kwabo bachasi bomyalezo wokubuya owakha wacebisa ukuba umgwebo wovavanyo wabantu beNkosi yayisisiganeko esiza kwenzeka phambi kokuza kukaKristu; kodwa bacingisisa ngalo mba ngokuhambelana nama-Adventist. Njengobungqina beli binzana sicaphula kwabachasi ababini abaziwayo.

GSAM 110.3UMnu. N. Colver, eseshumayela kwiMarlboro Street Chapel, eBoston, ngo-1842, echasa ama-Adventist, wathi:—

GSAM 111.1“Ukuba le mihla ziiminyaka, ihlabathi liza kuphela ngo-1843; nawuphi na umfundi wasikolo angakubona oko; kuba ukuba i-490 yaphela ekufeni kukaKristu, iintsuku eziyi-2300 zazingaphela ngo-1843; kwaye ihlabathi kufuneka liphele, ngaphandle kokuba kuboniswe ukuba kusekho esinye isiganeko esiza kwenzeka, kwaye andiboni ukuba oko kungenziwa njani.”

GSAM 111.2UProfesa Stuart, malunga nexesha elinye, wathi:

GSAM 111.2“Yinyaniso engaqhelekanga ukuba uninzi lwabatoliki kwihlabathi laseNgilani naseMelika, iminyaka emininzi, bebesoloko beqonda iintsuku ezichazwe kuDaniyeli nakwiNcwadi yeSiprofeto njengemifanekiso, okanye iimpawu, zeminyaka. Ndikufumene kunzima ukulandelela imvelaphi yesi siqhelo siqhelekileyo, ndingatsho ukuba esiphantse saba sehlabathi jikelele.”

GSAM 111Ubungqina bukaNjingalwazi Bush

GSAM 111.3UNjingalwazi Bush wathi: “Nabani na ohlasela uMnu. Miller ngombono wakhe wexesha, umhlasela kwindawo yakhe enamandla kakhulu. Ixesha lakhe lichanekile; kodwa uphazama kwisiganeko esiza kwenzeka.” UBush wayekholelwa ekuguqukeni kwehlabathi lonke phambi kokuza kukaKristu. Ingcinga yakhe yayikukuba i-millennium iza kuqala ngo-1844.

GSAM 111.4Abafundisi bokholo lwokubuya bafundisa kwintetho zabo zikawonke-wonke ukuba imbali yehlabathi ibonisa iintlanga ezahlukeneyo zikwimeko efanayo neyayimelwe ngumfanekiso kaDaniyeli 2, xa ilitye laliza kubetha umfanekiso ezinyaweni, kwaye uThixo wasezulwini wamisela ubukumkani bakhe; nakwisahluko 7, xa “ubukumkani nobulawuli nobukhulu bobukumkani obuphantsi kwesibhakabhaka sonke buza kunikwa abangcwele boPhezukonke.” Baphinda bakhomba kwinyaniso yokuba iimpawu—zomzimba, zezopolitiko, nezezimilo—zaziyile ncam ezo iziBhalo ezazixele kwangaphambili ukuba ziya kubonwa xa iNkosi iza kuvela.

GSAM 111Imimangaliso Ezulwini

GSAM 111.5INkosi, ngomprofeti uYoweli, ithi: “Ndiya kubonisa imimangaliso ezulwini nasemhlabeni, igazi nomlilo nezintsika zomsi. Ilanga liya kujika libe mnyama, nenyanga ibe ligazi, phambi kokuba kufike usuku olukhulu noloyikekayo lweNkosi.”⁴ Ama-Adventist akholelwa kwaye afundisa ukuba i-aurora borealis yeenkulungwane ezidlulileyo (edla ngokubizwa ngokuba zii-northern lights) yayiyiyo “umlilo nezintsika zomsi” ezihambelana noko kwachazwa ngumprofeti; kwaye ngokweenkcukacha ezingcono ezifunyenwe kwimbali (sibhekisa kwi-Edinburg Encyclopedia njengobungqina), yayibonwa kunqabile ngaphambi kweli xesha.

GSAM 112.1Ngoko ke, ngelixa umyalezo wokufika kweNkosi okukhawulezayo wawusiya kwiindawo ezikude zomhlaba, kwabonakala iimpawu ezulwini ezazixhasa inyaniso, zaza zatsala umdla wabantu.

GSAM 112.2Ngomhla wama-25 kuJanuwari 1837, kwabakho umboniso obalaseleyo we-aurora borealis evuthayo, obonakala ngathi wawukhokelela iingqondo zabantu abaninzi ngqo kwisiprofeto sikaYoweli esiphathelele koko kwakuzakandulela usuku olukhulu lweNkosi. Ingcaciso elandelayo yale mbonakalo ivela kwi-New York Commercial Advertiser yango-Oktobha 22, 1839. Iyahambelana nqo nembonakalo njengoko umbhali wayibona eVictor, e-Ontario County, eN.Y.

GSAM 112I-Aurora Yomlilo ka-1837

GSAM 112.3“Ngobusuku bomhla wama-25 kuJanuwari, 1837, kwabakho umboniso ongaqhelekanga weziganeko ezifanayo [okuthetha i-aurora borealis] kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo zelizwe, njengoko abafundi bethu bengasokuze balibale. Apho umhlaba wawugutyungelwe likhephu, umbono wawumangalisile kwaye ‘woyikeka’ ngendlela engazange ibonwe ngaphambili. Kwenye indawo, ekufuphi nentaba, abantu ababewubonile lo mboniso basixelela ukuba wawubonakala ‘njengamagagasi omlilo etyibilika entabeni,’ kwaye ngokubanzi, ngokokufundileyo, ikhephu elaligqume umhlaba lalibonakala ngathi ngumlilo udibene negazi, ngelixa phezulu (njengoko usithi umpostile), ‘izulu linalilo umlilo,’ lalifana kakhulu nenkcazelo yesiprofeto yosuku lokugqibela kangangokuba abaninzi bamangaliswa; Abantwana ababebukele boyika, baza babuza ukuba ingaba kukufika komgwebo na; kwaye nezilwanyana zathuthumela ngenxa yoloyiko olukhulu olwalubonakala.”

GSAM 113.1Akuzange kube yiMelika kuphela apho olu phawu lomprofeti uYoweli lwabonakala khona, kodwa njengoko imfundiso yokuza kweNkosi yayisaziwa ngakumbi eBritane, olu phawu lunye lwabonakala ezulwini kuloo lizwe. Iphephandaba i-New York Commercial Advertiser lango-Oktobha 22, 1839, licaphula oku kulandelayo kwiiphephandaba zaseLondon malunga nesiganeko esingaqhelekanga esabonwa kuloo lizwe ngobusuku bangoSeptemba 3:—

GSAM 113I-Aurora ka-1839

GSAM 113.2“ELONDON, NGOMHLA WE-5 KUSEPTEMBA.—Phakathi kweeyure zeshumi ngobusuku bangoLwesine nentsimbi yesithathu izolo kusasa, esibhakabhakeni kwabonwa enye yezona mpawu zibalaseleyo zezi ziganeko zingaqhelekanga, iinkwenkwezi eziwayo nezibane zasemantla, ezibonwe kwiminyaka emininzi edlulileyo. Uphawu lokuqala lwesi siganeko singaqhelekanga lwabonakala ngomzuzu we-10 phambi kwentsimbi yeshumi ebusuku, xa kukhanya okubomvu okubonakala ngathi ngumphunga, kwavela kwicala elingasentla lesibhakabhaka, kwaza kancinci kancinci kwandela kumbindi wezulu, yaye ngexesha lentsimbi yeshumi ebusuku okanye kwikota emva kwayo, yonke indawo, ukusuka empuma ukuya entshona, yayisisicwecwe esikhulu sokukhanya. Yayinokubonakala okoyikisa kakhulu, yaye yayifana ncam naleyo ibangwa lulilo oloyikekayo. Ukukhanya kwakutshintsha kakhulu; ngelinye ixesha kwabonakala ngathi kuyawa, kwaye kwangoko emva koko kwanyuka ngokukhanya okugqithisileyo. Kwakubonakala kudityaniswe nako amafu amakhulu omsi, awayejikajika, kwaye wonke umbukeli wayekholelwa ukuba ‘ngumlilo omkhulu kakhulu.’

GSAM 113.3“Uloyiko lwalulukhulu kakhulu kwisixeko esikhulu; amawaka abantu ayebaleka esingise kwicala lale ntlekele yayicingelwa ukuba yoyikeka kakhulu. Iimoto zocimo-mlilo ezivela kwizikhululo eziseBaker Street, Farringdon Street, Watling Street, Waterloo Road, kunye nezo zasezikhululweni zentshona yeLondon—enyanisweni, yonke imoto yocimo-mlilo eseLondon, yayibotshelelwe emahasheni yaza yabaleka ngesantya esiphezulu isiya kwindawo ekucingelwa ukuba kukho ‘intshabalalo’ ngamandla angaphaya kwesiqhelo, ilandelwa zizithuthi, abakhweli-mahashe, kunye nezihlwele ezinkulu zabantu. Ezinye zezi zithuthi zokucima umlilo zaya kude njengeHigh Gate neHalloway [malunga neemayile ezine] phambi kokuba le mpazamo ifunyanwe. Le miboniso yathatha iiyure ezingaphezulu kwezimbini, yaye ekuseni umboniso waba ngowobungangamsha.

GSAM 114.1“Ngeyeyibini kusasa esi siganeko sasisenza umboniso omhle kakhulu, nto leyo ebinzima kakhulu ukuyichaza. Lonke elaseLondon lalikhanyisiwe njengokukhanya kwemini emaqanda, kwaye umoya wawucwengile ngokumangalisayo. Isiqingatha esisemazantsi sesibhakabhaka, ngexesha elikhankanyiweyo, nangona kwakungekho lifu, sasimnyama kakhulu; kodwa iinkwenkwezi, ezazingenakubalwa, zazikhanya kakuhle. Icala elichaseneyo lesibhakabhaka lalibonisa umahluko ongummangaliso kodwa omhle kakhulu; lalihlanzekile kakhulu, kwaye ukukhanya kwakucace gca; kwakukho ulandelelwano olungapheliyo lweenkwenkwezi ezitshuzayo, ezazahluka kubuhle bokukhanya kwazo—zazibonakala ngathi zenzeka embindini wezulu, zaza zasasazeka de zabonakala ngathi ziyagqabhuka. Isiphumo saba ngathi kukhanya kumbane. Amawaka eenkwenkwezi ezincinci zavela ngokukhawuleza phezu komda wokubona, zaza zatsiba ngesantya esikhulu zisiya emhlabeni kangangokuba iliso belingakwazi nokulandela umkhondo wazo; zibonakala ngathi ziyagqabhuka nazo, ziphose intuthu emnyama ebomvu phezu kwesiqingatha sesibhakabhaka sonke. Imibala yayimangalisile ngokwenene.

GSAM 114.2“Ngentsimbi yesibini enesiqingatha umboniso watshintsha waba yintunzi, ethi, xa isasazeka, ibonise umnyama okhanyayo phezulu esibhakabhakeni, nakwindawo ejikeleze umqolo wobumnyama obubexhonyile kwicala elisemazantsi elizwe. Kungekudala emva koko kwavela iintsika zokukhanya okungathi yisilivere kuwo. Zakhula ngokumangalisayo, zixubana nomphunga obomvu owakheka ngelo xesha linye, kwaye zifikelela phezulu, lo mbono wawungaphaya kwako konke okucingelwayo. Iinkwenkwezi zazibhabhasela macala onke, kwaye zaqhubeka de kwangentsimbi yesine, xa zonke zanyamalala.”

GSAM 114Ukuvela Okungaqhelekanga Elangeni

GSAM 114.3Ngelixa abavangeli abaphilayo babebhengeza inyaniso yokuza kweNkosi, kwabonwa imimangaliso emininzi neyahlukeneyo ezulwini kwiindawo ngeendawo zehlabathi. Kwezi, indawo yethu isivumela kuphela ukubonisa inkangeleko yelanga eNorwich, eNgilani, ngoDisemba, 1843. Enye efanayo yenzeka eNew Haven, Conn., ngoSeptemba 9, 1844, kangangeeyure ezimbini phambi nasemva kwemini, yaye yabonwa ngamawaka abantu.

GSAM 115Ukuvela Okungaqhelekanga Kwelanga

GSAM 115.1Isangqa esincinci esingaphakathi simele ilanga. Sasingombala o-orenji okhanyayo. Inxalenye engaphandle yezangqa ezibini, ezikwimigama engalinganiyo ukusuka elangeni nezisijikelezileyo, yayibonakala inombala ofanayo; kodwa inxalenye engaphakathi yezi zangqa yayinombala otyheli onzulu, isibhakabhaka esiphakathi kwezo zangqa sibonakala sinombala omdaka, kwaye izangqa ezikhulu ezintathu ezidlulayo ngaphakathi nangaphantsi kwelanga, zazibonakala zikhanya ngokucacileyo.

GSAM 115.2Ngesiganeko saseNgilani sifunda, kwileta evela ku-E. Lloyd, waseLondon, ngomhla we-3 kuJanuwari 1844, ngolu hlobo:—

GSAM 115.3“Kubekho ‘umqondiso ongakholelekiyo elangeni,’ obonwe ngabemi abaphambili baseNorwich nakwimimandla engqongileyo, ongazange wabonwa ngaphambili eNgilani. Wabonwa ngoDisemba ophelileyo, malunga nentsimbi ye-12 emini, waza waqhubeka iiyure ezimbini. Woyikisa kakhulu abahlali. Wenzeka kanye phambi kokuba ooMzalwana uWinter, uBurgess, noRouton bavule umsebenzi wabo wokushumayela kuloo dolophu. Kwabonakala ngathi kulungiselela indlela yenyani, kangangokuba bafumana impumelelo entle apho.”

GSAM 116.1Ingxelo yesi siganeko njengoko senzeka eNew Haven, Conn., inikwe kwiMidnight Cry yomhla we-10 ka-Oktobha, 1844, kwaye yathathwa kwiNew Haven Palladium yomhla we-10 kaSeptemba, 1844. Kule ngxelo ikwiCry umhleli uthi, “Akukho mfilosofi ukhe wakwazi ukunika ingcaciso ngesizathu sesi siganeko anganelisekayo.”

GSAM 116.2Ingxelo ngesi sibonakaliso esibonakele sinxulumene nelanga eNew Haven, Conn., ngoSeptemba 9, 1844, yapapashwa kwakhona kwiHartford Courant yomhla we-12 kuSeptemba, 1844, kwaye ifundeka ngolu hlobo:—

GSAM 116.3“Iiringi ezazingqonge ilanga ngoMvulo, umhla we-9 kuSeptemba, 1844, kangangeeyure ezimbini phambi nasemva kwemini, zibonakala ngathi zabonwa ngabantu bethu ngomdla omkhulu, kwaye zivuse umnqweno onengqiqo wokwazi ngakumbi malunga nezi zinto zibonakalayo ezifana nazo kunye nesizathu sazo.

GSAM 116.4“Le halo yangoku ibingummangaliso ngokuhlala kwayo ixesha elide, kwaye yanika amathuba amahle okujonga. Malunga nentsimbi yeshumi elinambini emini ibinamasangqa amabini apheleleyo, elinye malunga needigri ezingamashumi amane anesihlanu ububanzi, lijikeleze ilanga esizikithini salo, kwaye elinye malunga needigri ezingamashumi asixhenxe anesibini ububanzi, isizikithini salo sikwi-zenith, ngelixa umjikelo walo uphela udlula elangeni. Umjikelo omncinci ubuhamba ne-ellipse enomgca wayo omkhulu, kunye ne-eccentricity encinci. Ngqo ngaphesheya kwelanga, nangama-36 eedigri kumntla wezenith, isangqa esikhulu sasiphambana namanye amasangqa amabini anobubanzi obufanayo okanye obuphantse bafane, esenza kwindawo yokudibana indawo eqaqambileyo, efana naleyo ingavela ngokwendalo ngokudityaniswa kokukhanya kwamasangqa amathathu akhanyayo. Isangqa esasijikeleze ilanga sasibonisa imibala yomnyama, rhoqo ngokucaca nangobuhle obukhulu. Ezinye iiringi zazimhlophe kwaye zingacaci kangako, njengoko zazikude ngakumbi elangeni. Noko ke, iinxalenye ezincinci zezangqa, ezinemibala yephrizim [yomnyama], zazivela ngamaxesha ahlukeneyo, empuma nasentshona.... Oku kufana kwesakhiwo kumele kuxhomekeke kumthetho olawula ukwenziwa kweehalo; kodwa imo yalo mthetho ayikachazwa ngokupheleleyo.... Akubangakho bunzima bungako ekucaciseni ukubunjwa kwesangqa esijikeleza ilanga, kuba unobangela waso ufana kancinci nalowo wenza umnyama, kodwa ukucacisa imvelaphi yesangqa esinomjikelezo waso embindini welanga, kufunyenwe kunzima ngakumbi.”

GSAM 117Imimangaliso Ezalisekisa Iqikelelo Lezibhalo

GSAM 117.1Malunga nokusetyenziswa kwale mibono imangalisayo ibonwe ezulwini, eNgilani naseMelika, sinokufunda ngokufunda kwi-Exposition of the Twenty-fourth of Matthew, ebhalwe nguSylvester Bliss, yapapashwa eBoston ngo-1843. Emva kokucaphula ezinye zezi ngxelo zingentla, uthi:—

GSAM 117.2“Ngoko ke ‘imiqondiso emikhulu’ kunye ‘neembono ezoyikekayo’ ezibikezelwe kwiZibhalo zenyaniso, zibonakala ngathi zonke zizalisekisiwe, kunye nezo uMsindisi wabhengeza ukuba ziza kungena phambi kokuza kwakhe.

GSAM 117.3“Njengoko ukuhluma kwamagqabi emithi kuluphawu lwasehlotyeni, ngokunjalo ke, ekuzalisekeni kwezi mpawu, amaKristu kufuneka azi ukuba ukufika kukaKristu kukufuphi, sekusemnyango. Asikokuba kuvunyelwe nje ukuba sazi, kodwa uMsindisi wethu uyayalela ukuba sazi.”⁵

GSAM 117IZITHUNYWA

GSAM 117.4Emva kokutsalela ingqalelo kwezinye zeempawu eziphambili zomyalezo wokubuya kwesibini kukaKristu, njengoko wawukhutshwa ekuqaleni, kunokuba nomdla ukuqaphela abambalwa kwabo badlala indima ebalulekileyo kwesi saziso sikhulu. Sele sinike amagama amaninzi abo babengabona bafundisi banetalente yelo xesha kumazwe angaphandle ababenza esi sibhengezo. Njengoko sisitsalela umdla kwabo babengamakhokeli eMelika, abo iNkosi yababeka umthwalo womsebenzi, oku kuza kunceda ukubonisa ngakumbi ukuba isandla seNkosi sasingempela kulo mzamo.

GSAM 118UWilliam Miller

GSAM 118.1Okokuqala siza kuqaphela imeko kaWilliam Miller, owayedume kakhulu kwintshukumo yokubuya kweNkosi e-United States kangangokuba kwabaninzi le ntshukumo yaziwa nje njenge “Millerism.”

GSAM 118.2UWilliam Miller wazalelwa ePittsfield, eMass., ngoFebruwari, 1782. Ebuntwaneni bakhe bokuqala, kwabonakala iimpawu zokuba nengqondo enamandla nangaphezulu kunoqhelekileyo, esebenza kakhulu. Kwiminyaka embalwa, ezi mpawu zaba ngathi zibonakala ngakumbi kubo bonke ababehlala naye. Wayenomzimba oqinileyo, ingqondo esebenzayo nophuhlile ngokwendalo, kunye nesimilo esingenasiphako. Wayefunde kwisikolo sasekuhlaleni esasinamathuba anqongopheleyo iminyaka embalwa kuphela ngaphambi kokuba kwamkelwe ngokubanzi ukuba oko wayekufundile kwagqitha okwabafundisi abaqhelekileyo.

GSAM 118.3UMnu. Miller watshata ngo-1802, waza wahlala ePoultney, Vt. Amadoda awayenxulumene nawo ukusukela ngexesha lokufudukela kwakhe ePoultney, awayefumene kubo uncedo olukhulu kwizinto zeli hlabathi, ayechukunyiswe kakhulu ziimfundiso zokuthandabuza kunye neengcinga zobuthixo bendalo. Babengengamadoda angenamigomo yokuziphatha, kodwa njengodidi babengabemi abalungileyo, yaye ngokubanzi babenezimilo ezinzulu, benovelwano, kwaye benenceba. Noko ke, bayayichitha iBhayibhile njengomgangatho wenyaniso yenkolo, baza bazama ukwenza ukuyichitha kwayo kube yinto ekholisayo ngoncedo olwalunokufunyanwa kwimibhalo kaVoltaire, Hume, Volney, Paine, Ethan Allen, nabanye. UMnu. Miller wayifunda ngenyameko le mibhalo, waza ekugqibeleni wazivuma njengomntu okholelwa kuMdali kodwa elikhaba isityhilelo. Watsho ngokwakhe ukuba ubomi bakhe bokukholelwa kuThixo kuphela bathatha iminyaka elishumi elinesibini, buqala malunga nonyaka ka-1804.

GSAM 118.4Emva kokufumana isikhundla sikakapteni, wangena emkhosini ngo-1810. Ekubuyeni kwakhe emkhosini, wafudusela usapho lwakhe eLow Hampton, N.Y., ukuze aqale umsebenzi wokulima apho ngo-1812. Njengomlimi, wayenexesha elingakumbi lokufunda. Wafumanisa ukuba iimbono zakhe zedeism bezingamniki siqinisekiso solonwabo ngaphaya kobomi bangoku. Ngaphaya kwangcwaba konke kwakumnyama kwaye kutyhafisa. Ukusebenzisa amazwi akhe:

GSAM 118.4“Ukubhangiswa kwakuyingcamango eyoyikekayo ehla ngomchachazo, nokuziphendulela kuyintshabalalo eqinisekileyo kumntu wonke. Amazulu ayefana nobhedu phezu kwentloko yam, umhlaba usisinyithi ngaphantsi kweenyawo zam. Unaphakade—wayeyintoni? Ukufa kona—kwakufuneka ngantoni? Okukhona ndicingisisa, kokukhona ndandikude nokufumanisa inyaniso. Okona ndiya ndicinga, kwakukona zisasazeka izinto endifikelela kuzo. Ndazama ukuyeka ukucinga, kodwa iingcinga zam azalawuleka. Ndandihlupheke ngokwenene, kodwa ndingasazi isizathu.... Kungekudala emva koko, ngequbuliso isimilo soMsindisi safika ngokucacileyo engqondweni yam. Kwaba ngathi unokuba ukho umntu olunge kakhulu nonemfesane onokuthi ngokwakhe azicamagushele izikreqo zethu, aze ngako oko asisindise ekohlwayweni ngenxa yesono. Kwangoko, ndayiva indlela anokuba uthandeka ngayo umntu onjalo, ndazibona ndiziphosa ezingalweni zakhe, ndithembela kwinceba yakhe umntu onjalo.”

GSAM 119Ukuguquka kukaWilliam Miller

GSAM 119.1Uye waphinda wathi:

GSAM 119.1“Ndabona ukuba iBhayibhile iyamveza uMsindisi onjalo njengoko ndandimdinga; ndaza ndadidwa kukufumana ukuba incwadi engaphefumlelwanga ingaphuhlisa imithetho-siseko egqibelele ngolo hlobo ekwazi ukufanela iimfuno zomhlaba owileyo. Ndanyanzeleka ukuba ndivume ukuba iziBhalo kunyanzelekile ukuba zibe sisityhilelo esivela kuThixo. Zaba luvuyo lwam; ndaza ndafumana umhlobo kuYesu.... IBhayibhile ngoku yayeyona iphambili kwizifundo zam, ndaye ndikwazi ukuthi, Ndiyiphengulule ngokonwaba okukhulu. Ndifumanise ukuba andizanga ndaxelwa nesiqingatha. Ndaya ndamangala ukuba kungani ndingazange ndibubone ubuhle nobuqaqawuli bayo ngaphambili, ndakhwankqiswa kukuba ndakha ndayala ngaphambili.”

GSAM 119.2Indlela kaWilliam Miller yokufunda iBhayibhile ichazwa ngolu hlobo nguye ngokwakhe:

GSAM 119.2“Ndagqiba kwelokuba ndibeke ecaleni zonke iimbono zam zangaphambili, ndithelekise isibhalo nesibhalo ngokucokisekileyo, kwaye ndiqhubeke nesifundo sawo ngendlela ecwangcisiweyo, enesakhelo.... Nanini na xa ndifumana into engacacanga, isiko lam yayikukuyithelekisa nazo zonke iindinyana ezinxulumeneyo; yaye, ngoncedo lukaCruden, ndahlola zonke iindinyana zeziBhalo apho kwakufumaneka khona nawaphi na amagama abalulekileyo afumaneka kulo naliphi na icandelo elingacacanga.... Ngale ndlela ndaqhubeka nokufunda iBhayibhile, ekufundeni kwam kwayo kokuqala, kangangeminyaka emibini, yaye ndaneliseka ngokupheleleyo ukuba iyazitolika ngokwayo.

GSAM 120.1“Ngethuba ndisafunda ngolu hlobo, ndaqiniseka ukuba ukuba iziprofeto ezazalisekiswe kwixesha elidlulileyo ziyindlela yokulinganisa ngayo indlela yokuzaliseka kwezo zisekhamva, izimvo eziqhelekileyo ngolawulo lukaKristu olokomoya—iminyaka eliwaka yasemhlabeni phambi kokuphela kwehlabathi, nokubuya kwamaYuda—azixhaswanga lizwi likaThixo.... Ndafumanisa ukuba iziBhalo zifundisa ngokucacileyo ukuba uYesu Kristu uza kuphinda ehle kweli hlabathi, eza kumafu ezulu, kuko konke uzuko lukaBawo.

GSAM 120.2“Ndafumana uvuyo ekufundeni iZibhalo endandingazange ngaphambili ndicinge ukuba lungafunyanwa kwizifundo zazo. Ndaqalisa ukuzifunda ndingenalindelo lokufumana ixesha lokuza koMsindisi, kwaye ekuqaleni andikwazi nokukholelwa kwisiphumo endandifikelele kuso; kodwa ubungqina bandichukumisa ngamandla kangangokuba andikwazanga ukuchasa iinkolelo zam. Ndaphantse ndaqiniseka kwiingqikelelo zam, ndaza ndaqalisa ukulinda, nokuphaphama, nokuthandaza ngokufika koMsindisi.”

GSAM 120.3Uphinda athi:

GSAM 120.3“Ndakholwa; kwaye kwangoko umthwalo wokupapasha esi sifundo, ukuze ihlabathi likholwe kwaye lilungiselele ukudibana noMgwebi noMkhwenyana ekufikeni kwakhe, wangena engqondweni yam. Akunyanzelekanga ukuba ndingene apha kwingxelo eneenkcukacha ngeemvavanyo zam ezinde nezibuhlungu. Kwanele ukuthi, emva kweminyaka eliqela ndanyanzelwa nguMoya kaThixo, ngamandla enyaniso, nangothando lwemiphefumlo, ukuba ndithwale umnqamlezo wam ndibhengeze ezi zinto kwihlabathi elifayo nelitshabalalayo.”

GSAM 120.4UMnu. Miller, njengabo baphenjelelwa yile ngxelo kwamanye amazwe, waqala wacinga ukuzalisekisa umsebenzi wakhe ngokubhala nokupapasha kwiijenali zoluntu nakwiincwadana. Waqala ukupapasha izimvo zakhe kwiVermont Telegraph, iphephandaba lamaBaptist, eliprintwa eBrandon, Vt. Oku kwakungonyaka ka-1831. Waqala ukuthetha esidlangalaleni ngalo mbandela ngonyaka ka-1832. Wathi ngalo hlangano, “INkosi yagalela ubabalo lwayo kwindibano, kwaye abaninzi bakholwa bafumana usindiso lwemiphefumlo yabo.”

GSAM 121.1Ngo-1836 iintetho zakhe zashicilelwa kwezinye zeephephancwadi zoluntu zaloo mihla. Ebusika buka-1837-38 iintetho zakhe zakhutshwa kwipamphlet. Ngo-1838 kwashicilelwa incwadana yesibini enamaphepha angama-204, kwaye kule ncwadana uMnu. Miller wachaza ukuba ulawulo lwama-Ottoman lunokuwela ngonyaka ka-1839 okanye ka-1840. Iintetho zakhe zokuqala kuyo nayiphi na izixeko ezikhulu zaba ngonyaka ka-1836. Emva koko wathetha kwizixeko zaseRandolph, eLowell, eGroton, naseLynn, eMass.

GSAM 121.2Kude kube ngunyaka we-1840 uMnu. Miller wayemi phantse eyedwa njengesithethi sasesidlangalaleni ngesihloko sokubuya kukaKristu okusondeleyo. Ngonyaka owalowo, ngequbuliso, amakhulu abantu azimanya naye ekushumayeleni lo myalezo. Into eyabangela olu tshintsho lukhulu iza kuchazwa kwisahluko esilandelayo. Ebusika bango-1839-40 uMnu. Miller wanikezela ngothotho lweentetho e-Exeter, N.H. Kulapho wadibana khona okokuqala noMfundisi uJ. V. Himes, owathi ngelo xesha wayemkela ukholo, kwaye ukusukela ngaloo mini wema ecaleni kukaMfundisi uMiller njengompapashi nomshumayeli onomdla womyalezo omkhulu wokubuya kwesibini kukaKristu.

GSAM 121Joshua V. Himes

GSAM 121.3Malunga neli gqala lisebenzayo kolu shukumo lukhulu, asinakwenza ngcono kunokucaphula kumbhali wobomi bakhe, othi:—

GSAM 121.4“UJoshua V. Himes wazalelwa eWickford, R.I., ngomhla we-19 kuMeyi 1805. Utata wakhe wayesaziwa kakhulu njengorhwebi orhweba neWest Indies, kwaye wayebalasele njengelungu lebandla laseSt. Paul's Episcopal eWickford. Umama wakhe wayenobuntu obuthandekayo, nothando lweMsindisi, alufaka ezindlebeni ezilulameleyo zonyana wakhe.

GSAM 121.5“Bekuyinjongo kayise ukufundisa unyana wakhe, uJoshua, ukuze abe ngumshumayeli webandla awayelilungu lalo naye, kodwa iimeko zathintela oko. UThixo wayenomnye umsebenzi awawulungiselele loo nyana, kwaye wayehlela izinto ngendlela eza kuzisa isiphumo esinqwenelekayo. Ngo-1817 utata wathumela umthwalo oxabisekileyo phantsi kolawulo lukaKapteni Carter, kunye noAlexander Stewart njengomphathi wempahla. Aba bantu babonakala bengathembekanga, yaye emva kokufika kwizibuko laseWest Indies, bathengisa inqanawa kunye nomthwalo, baze babaleka. Esi siganeko satshintsha zonke izicwangciso ebezisenzelwe ikamva likaJoshua osemtsha, owayefanele ukuba athunyelwe kwiYunivesithi yaseBrown, eProvidence, R.I. Endaweni yoko, ngo-Epreli, 1821, wathathwa waya eNew Bedford, eMass., waza wabotshelelwa kuWilliam Knights ukuze afunde umsebenzi wokwenza ifenitshala.

GSAM 122.1“Akufika ekhayeni lakhe elitsha, wazibandakanya ngenkuthalo kumsebenzi awawunikwe wona, ezimisele ukuba yingcaphephe kumsebenzi wakhe. Noko ke, akathathi xesha lide wafumanisa ukuba indawo yakhe yokonqula yayingahambelani nentando yakhe. Uthi, ‘Umphathi wam wayengumUnitarian, waza wandisa ebandleni lakhe. UMfundisi u-Orville Dewey wayengumfundisi. Wayengumntu owayesandul' ukushiya iimfundiso zobuKristu ezamkelekileyo. Uqeqesho lwam phantsi koBhishophu Griswold noMfundisi William Burge, umfundisi waseSt. Paul's, eWickford, kunye nokuva rhoqo uGqr. Crocker onobuciko waseSt. John's, eProvidence, R.I., kwandenza ndangakulungelanga ukwamkela iintetho ezinobuciko zikaMnu. Dewey eziphika iimfundiso zikaKristu nabapostile bakhe.’

GSAM 122.2“Ngenxa yokuba ngelo xesha kwakungekho bandla lama-Episcopal eNew Bedford, wagqiba kwelokuba aye kwiBandla lokuQala lamaKristu [hayi elamaDisciple] waza kamva wazimanya nelo qumrhu. ‘Apha,’ utsho, ‘ndafumana iBhayibhile evulelekileyo kunye nenkululeko yokucinga, ndaza ndazisebenzisa zombini kakuhle.’ Eli bandla laliphantsi kononophelo lobufundisi bukaMfundisi uMoses Howe. UMfundisi uClough wabhaptiza uJoshua V. Himes ngomhla wesi-2 kuFebruwari 1823. Enentliziyo evutha ngumnqweno wokukhonza iNkosi yakhe, waqalisa kwangoko, eneminyaka elishumi elinesibhozo ubudala, ukubalisa ibali lomnqamlezo nokukhuthaza abantu ukuba baguquke. Uthi ngaye:—

GSAM 122.3“‘Ndisuke ndaba ngumkhuthazi, ndaza ndanikwa ilayisensi yokuphucula isiphiwo sam.... Ndagqiba uqeqesho lwam ndanelisekile, ndaza ndanconywa. Kodwa kangangeminyaka emihlanu okanye emithandathu bendisenza umsebenzi ogqithisileyo ngoko ke ndandifumana usuku olunye okanye ezibini ngeveki lokufunda nomsebenzi wobumishinari kwiindawo ezihluphekileyo, iziqhamo zazo endandizipha umfundisi wam.’

GSAM 123.1“Ngo-1825 wathunywa njengomvangeli wenkomfa yamaBandla amaKristu kumazantsi eMassachusetts. ‘Kwakungekho sicwangciso okanye indlela yokuxhasa abavangeli,’ utsho uMfundisi uHimes, ‘ndaza ndagqiba kwelokuba ndingene kwishishini ukuze ndizixhase, ndize ndishumayele kangangoko ndinako.’

GSAM 123.2“Ngo-1828 wemka eNew Bedford, engenamathandabuzo okanye ukunqaba kwamandla, kodwa enesigqibo esasiza kuphumelela, waya ePlymouth, apho wabhengeza ilizwi likaThixo kwizindlu zezikolo, kumagumbi alungiselelweyo, naphi na apho wayenokufumana abaphulaphuli. Ngo-1829 waqhubeka nomsebenzi ofanayo eFall River de kwaba ngo-1830, xa wafudukela eBoston njengomfundisi weBandla lokuQala neleSibini lamaKristu; waza wahlala apho iminyaka engamashumi amathathu anesithathu. Ngo-1839 waba ngumlandeli wenkolo yokubuya, njengoko yayichazwa nguMfundisi odumileyo uWilliam Miller. Wangenela kulo mbandela mtsha ngomdla wakhe wonke, yaye inkonzo yakhe yayizele ngumlilo namandla. Ngo-1840, waqala ukupapasha i-Signs of the Times, exhasa imbono awayenikele kuyo ngentliziyo yakhe yonke. Yonke imali yakhe, wonke umsebenzi wakhe, yonke amandla akhe wayenikela kule mbono, kwaye amawaka abaguqukileyo azuzwa.”

GSAM 123Imisebenzi edityanisiweyo kaMiller noHimes

GSAM 123.3Ukususela ngo-1840 ukuya kutsho ekwindla lika-1844, imisebenzi yooMfundisi uMiller noHimes yayimanyene kakhulu njengoko babesiya besuka kwisixeko besiya kwesinye, ehlotyeni benetende yabo enkulu kakhulu, nasebusika kwiicawa nakwiiholo zikawonke-wonke. Amandla amakhulu omzimba kaMfundisi uHimes amgcinile de wangena kunyaka wakhe wamashumi alithoba anesibini. Amandla akhe engqondo ayesomelele kude kube sekupheleni. Kunyaka ka-1894, nge-28 kaSeptemba, wanikezela ngentetho evuselelayo kakhulu kwindibano yamaSeventh-day Adventist engaphezulu kwamawaka amathathu kwibala lokumkela iindibano eLansing, eMichigan. Wayebonakala ethetha ngentshiseko namandla afanayo nawangexesha elidala. Oku kwakumangalisa ngokwenene kumntu owayesele enenyanga ezintathu kunyaka wakhe wama-91, kwaye wayesulelekile sisifo esinganyangekiyo awayesifa ngaso kunyaka olandelayo.

GSAM 124.1OoMfundisi uMiller noHimes, babemi, ngokungathi, “ngaphambili kwidabi” kwintshukumo yokubuya kwesibini kukaKristu eMelika, kwaye babengababini kuphela phakathi kwabaninzi ababesebenza nabo ekushumayeleni imfundiso yokubuya kukaKristu, ababephethe iimpawu eziphambili zokuzimisela okungagungqiyo nokunyaniseka okungenasiphako. La madoda ngokuyintloko ayengowodidi olubizwa lihlabathi ngokuba “ngamadoda azenzele ngokwawo,”—amadoda ayekhule ngokujongana neenyaniso ezilukhuni zobomi, ayefunde ukugweba ukufaneleka kombandela ngokomgaqo, hayi ngokweqhinga. Ayengowohlobo lwamalungu amabandla uMfundisi uMiller awayesithi adla ngokwamkela umyalezo, “amalungu anenkolo engcwele, azinikeleyo, aphilayo.” Le nto yaqinisekiswa ngabafundisi bamabandla ahlukeneyo, abathi, emva kokwahlukana kokugqibela kwama-Adventist kuwo, “I [inkolelo] ithathe abona bafanelekileyo kwimfuyo yethu.”

GSAM 124Abanye Abavangeli AbaPhambili bama-Adventist

GSAM 124.2Kunokuba nomdla ukukhankanya ngamagama amanye amadoda adlala indima ebalulekileyo kunye nooMfundisi uMiller noHimes kwintshukumo yala maxesha okuqala. Owokuqala kuluhlu nguCharles Fitch, waseCleveland, eOhio, othe ngo-1842 wacebisa umbono wokuba neetshathi zokuchaza imibono kaDaniyeli neSityhilelo. Imvelaphi yale ngcinga yayisekelwe kwiHabhakuki 2:2, 3. Ukufa kukaCharles Fitch kwenzeka nge-10 ka-Oktobha, 1844.

GSAM 124.3UGqr. Josiah Litch, wasePhiladelphia, othe, njengoko siza kubona kwisahluko esilandelayo, wakhuthazwa yiNkosi ukuba abhengeze inyaniso eyathi, ekuzalisekeni kwayo, yabangela ukwanda okwesiquphe nokukhawulezileyo kwomdla kumyalezo wokubuya kweNkosi.

GSAM 124.4U-Elon Galusha, waseLockport, eN.Y., umfundisi owaziwayo wamaBhaptizi, imibhalo yakhe nobulungiseleli bakhe ngesihloko sokufika kweNkosi okusondeleyo zabangela ingxokozelo enkulu kuloo candelo lwenkolo.

GSAM 125.1U-E. R. Pinney, waseSeneca Falls, N.Y., omnye umfundisi ozinikeleyo webandla lamaBhaptizi onobulungiseleli nemibhalo eyaba ngamandla kuloo msebenzi. Wayenokubizwa ngokufanelekileyo ngokuba “Yityuwa yomhlaba.”

GSAM 125.2UGeo. Storrs, waseNew York City, owayesakuba ngumvuselesi owaziwayo phambi kokuguquka kwakhe waya kwimfundiso yokubuya. Izibhalo zakhe zaba nefuthe elikhulu ekushukumiseni abantu ukuba bazinikele ngakumbi ngokwabo nangempahla yabo kulo msebenzi; ingakumbi kwakunjalo kwiiveki zokuvala zeentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu. Yena, emva kokuphoxeka, wazisa kubantu bama-Adventist nakwihlabathi iintshumayelo zakhe ezintandathu ezimalunga nendalo yomntu, imeko yabafileyo, kunye nesohlwayo esizayo.

GSAM 125.3UMfundisi uStockman, wasePortland, eMaine, wayengomnye umsebenzi onyanisekileyo kuvuselelo lukaWilliam Miller kuloo dolophu. Ukufa kwakhe kwenzeka kwiiveki ezimbalwa phambi kokuvalwa konyaka wamaYuda ka-1843, ngelixa abantu bama-Adventist bebenethemba kwaye belindele ukuba iNkosi iza kufika ngelo xesha.⁶

GSAM 125.4Kwakukho nabanye amadoda adumileyo esiza kukhankanya nje ngenxa yokunqongophala kwendawo, anjengo N. N. Whiting, owenza inguqulelo yeTestamente eNtsha ngesiNgesi, eyaziwa ngokuba yi-Whiting's Translation; u-S. S. Snow, u-F. G. Brown, u-Apollos Hale, u-L. D. Mansfield, u-Geo. Needham, u-O. R. Fassett; George, Wesley, no-Edwin Burnham (abazalwana abathathu), bonke ababe ngabasebenzi abakhutheleyo kwintshumayelo.