Isahluko 11 — Umyalezo weNgelosi Yesibili

GSAM 171.1“KWALANDELA enye ingelosi yathi, iBhabhiloni iwile, iwile, leli dolobha elikhulu, ngoba lenze zonke izizwe zaphuza iwayini lokuthukuthela ngenxa yokuziphatha kwayo ngokocansi.”¹

GSAM 171.2“Kwathi-ke inkosi yendlu, ethukuthele, yathi encekwini yayo, Phuma masinyane ezitaladini nasemigudwini yedolobha, ulethe lapha abampofu, abakhubazekile, abaxhugayo nabangaboniyo.”²

GSAM 171.3INkosi, ngabashumayeli bayo, yavusa umhlaba ngomyalezo othi, “Isikhathi sokwahlulela kwakhe sesifikile,”—umyalezo abantu bakhe bonke abazibiza ngokuba abakholwa ababengahlanganyela kuwo uma befisa. Lona kwakuyisimemo sokuqala esiya “esidlweni” somshado. Kwamenyezelwa “kulabo ababememelwe.”³ Njengoba lesi sibizo sashiywa eceleni ngezizathu ezahlukene, kwaphakanyiswa isibizo sesibili esihambisana nomyalezo wengelosi yesibili.⁴ Ngalesi sibizo iNkosi yahlukanisa abantu ukuze bahambe baya ekupheleni kwesikhathi nokukhanya okuqhubekayo kweqiniso lakhe.

GSAM 171Isimemo Sesibili Esiya Esidlweni Somshado

GSAM 171.4Umyalezo wesibili—owalandela ukukhala kwesikhathi sokwahlulela—uthi, “IBhabhiloni liwile, liwile, lelo dolobha elikhulu, ngoba lenza zonke izizwe ziphuze iwayini lolaka lobufebe balo.” Futhi isimemo sesibili sokudla sithi, “Phumani masinyane ezitaladini nasemigudwini yedolobha, niletha lapha abampofu, abakhubazekile, abaxhugayo, nabangaboniyo.” Kuyo yonke le miBhalo abantu abazibiza ngokuthi bangabalandeli beNkosi babizwa ngokuthi “idolobha.” Ngezinkolo zabo eziphikisanayo nezididayo babizwa ngokuthi “iBhabhiloni.” Ngomunye umbhalo okhuluma ngezikhathi zokugcina, sibona ukuthi ngaphambi kokufika kweNkosi abantu bakhe babizwa ukuba baphume e“Bhabhiloni:” “IBhabhiloni elikhulu liwile, liwile, laba indawo yokuhlala yezidimoni, nendawo yokuboshwa yawo wonke umoya ongcolile, nendawo yokubamba zonke izinyoni ezingcolile nezizondwayo.... Phumani kulo, bantu bami, ukuze ningahlanganyeli ezonweni zalo, futhi ningamukeli izinhlupho zalo.”⁵

GSAM 172“Khumbula ukuthi uzwile kanjani”

GSAM 172.1Ekubhalweni okuya ebandleni laseSardis sifunda, “Khumbula-ke ukuthi wamukela kanjani futhi wezwa kanjani; ubambe ngokuqinile, uphenduke. Ngakho-ke uma ungabheki, ngizofika kuwe njengesela, futhi angeke wazi ukuthi ngizofika ngawuphi umzuzu.”⁶ Kubonakala sengathi ibandla laseSardis laphuma ngenxa yokuvuselelwa, ngemva kwesikhathi esimnyama somsebenzi ka-“Jezebel”—ibandla elaphambuka. Ibandla laseSardis latshelwa ukuthi beliphila; kodwa lapho belizwa futhi belinqaba imfundiso yokufika kweNkosi, lazibeka endaweni lapho lalingase lithathelwe khona yileso sigameko “njengesela ebusuku”. Ngakho-ke, njengoba kuchazwe ngumphostoli uPawulu ku-1 AbaseThesalonika 5:1-5, yilokho okuzoba isimo salabo abamemeza bathi, “Ukuthula nokuphepha,” lapho ukuza kweNkosi sekuseduze. Labo abalandela ukukhanya kweqiniso babizwa ngokuthi “izingane zosuku,” futhi iNkosi ngeke ibe kubo njengesela.

GSAM 172.2Kulesi sichasiselo sobuprofethi samabandla ayisikhombisa, sibona ukuthi ukuwa kwebandla laseSardis kulandelwa ngokushesha ibandla lasePhiladelphia, noma (njengoba igama lisho) ibandla lothando lobuzalwane. Empeleni, laba abakholwa abangama-50,000 abathi, ngomyalezo wengelosi yesibili, bakhishwa kuwo wonke amabandla ahlukene, bahlangana ngentambo eyodwa yothando lobuzalwane eqinisweni elikhulu eliyinhloko lokufika okusheshayo kukaKristu.

GSAM 173Indlela Umyalezo Wesibili Owamemezelwa Ngayo

GSAM 173.1IMidnight Cry kaSepthemba 12, 1844, iqukethe isitatimende esenziwe nguMfundisi J. V. Himes mayelana nomyalezo weNgelosi yesibili, kanye nezimo ezaholela ekumemezelweni kwawo. Incwadi yakhe ibhalwe eMcConnelsville, e-Ohio, ngomhlaka 29 Agasti 1844, futhi ifundeka kanje:—

GSAM 173.2“Ngesikhathi saqala umsebenzi noMfowethu Miller ngo-1840, wayesele eminyakeni eyisishiyagalolunye enikeza izinkulumo. Ngaleso sikhathi wayemi cishe yedwa. Kodwa imisebenzi yakhe yayingapheli futhi yayisebenza ekuvuseni abavuma ukholo ithemba langempela labantu bakaNkulunkulu, nokulungiselela okudingekayo kokufika kweNkosi; kanye nokuvusa zonke izinhlaka zabangakholwa ukuze baqaphele isimo sabo esilahlekile, nomthwalo wokuzisola ngokushesha nokuguquka baya kuNkulunkulu, njengokulungiselela ukuhlangana noMkhwenyana ngokuthula ekufikeni kwakhe. Lezo zaziyizinhloso ezinkulu zomsebenzi wakhe. Akazange azame ukuguqula abantu babe yisigaba noma iqembu lenkolo.

GSAM 173.3“Lapho sesiqinisekisiwe ngobuqiniso bokufika okusondelene, futhi samukela imfundiso obala, saba nombono ofanayo, futhi saqhubeka nendlela efanayo phakathi kwezinhlangano ezahlukene zenkolo lapho sasibizwe khona, ngokubona kukaNkulunkulu, ukuba sisebenze. Satshela abashumayeli namabandla ukuthi akuyona ingxenye yomsebenzi wethu ukuwaphula, noma ukuwahlukanisa nokuwadida: Besinomgomo owodwa oqondile, okuwukunikela ‘ngesimemezelo,’ isixwayiso sokwahlulela ‘esemnyango,’ nokukhuthaza abantu ukuthi bazilungiselele lesi sigameko.... Inkonzo namalungu abazuzile emsebenzini wethu, kodwa abangakayamukeli ngempela imfundiso, babona ukuthi kumele noma bahambe nemfundiso, bayishumayele futhi bayisekele, noma esimweni esiphuthumayo esasiseduze nabo, babe nobunzima nabakholwa abaqinile nabazimisele. Ngakho-ke banquma ukuphikisa imfundiso, futhi banquma, abanye ngenqubomgomo eyodwa nabanye ngenye, ukucindezela lolu daba. Lokhu kwabeka abafowethu nodadewethu phakathi kwabo esimweni esinzima kakhulu. Iningi labo laliwathanda amabandla awo, futhi lalingenakucabanga ngokuwashiya. Kodwa lapho behlekiswa, becindezelwa, futhi ngezinhlobo ezahlukene bahlukunyezwa ezinzuzweni zabo zangaphambilini nasekujabuliseni kwabo, futhi lapho ‘ukudla ngesikhathi esifanele’ sibanqatshelwa, futhi ingoma ekhangayo ethi ‘ukuthula nokuphepha’ yadlalwa ezindlebeni zabo kusukela eSabatheni kuya eSabatheni, maduzane bakhishwa ekuthandeni kwabo amaqembu, bavuka ngobukhulu bamandla abo, balahla umthwalo, baphakamisa isimemezelo esithi, ‘Phuma kuyo, bantu bami.’

GSAM 174Esimweni Esinzima

GSAM 174.1“Lesi simo sasibeka esimweni esinzima, (1) ngoba sasiseduze kakhulu ekupheleni kwesikhathi sethu sobuprofethi, lapho sasinethemba lokuthi iNkosi izohlanganisa bonke abantu bayo ndawonye; (2) futhi sasihlale sishumayela imfundiso ehlukile; manje njengoba izimo sezishintshile, bekuzobhekwa njengokungathembeki kithi uma sasihlanganyela ekumemezelweni kokwahlukanisa nokuhlukanisa amabandla asamukele thina nomyalezo wethu. Ngakho-ke sasala sithandabuza, saqhubeka sisebenza ngokwesimiso sethu sokuqala, kuze kwaba ukuthi ibandla nabaphathi benkonzo bathuthela udaba lolu kude kangangokuthi, ngenxa yokwesaba uNkulunkulu, kwadingeka sithathe isikhundla sokuvikela iqiniso nezingane zikaNkulunkulu ezicindezelwe.

GSAM 174Isibonelo Sobuphostoli Endleleni Yethu

GSAM 174.2“‘Wangena esinagogeni, wakhuluma ngesibindi izinyanga ezintathu, exoxa futhi enxenxa ngezinto eziphathelene nombuso kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa lapho abanye beqinisa izinhliziyo, bengakholwa, kodwa bekhuluma kabi ngaleyo ndlela phambi kwesixuku, wahamba kubo, wahlukanisa abafundi, exoxa nsuku zonke esikoleni sikaTyrannus.’⁷ Kwaze kwaba lapho ‘abanye beqinile’ futhi ‘bekhuluma kabi ngaleyo ndlela [ukufika kweNkosi] phambi kwesixuku,’ lapho abafowethu bagqugquzeleka ukuphuma bahlukanise nezinkolo. Abazange bakwazi ukumelana nalokhu ‘kukhuluma okubi’ ‘kwezinceku ezimbi,’ futhi amabandla ayekwazi ukuqhubeka nendlela yokucindezela ‘nokukhuluma okubi’ kulabo ababebheke ‘ithemba elibusisiwe,’ kwakungewona amanye ngaphandle kwezindodakazi zeBhabhiloni eyimfihlakalo. Babamemezela kanjalo, bafinyelela enkululekweni yevangeli. Yize singavumelani sonke ngokuthi yini eyenza iBhabhiloni, siyavumelana ngokuhlukana ngokushesha nangokuphelele nabo bonke abaphikisa imfundiso yokufika okuseduze kanye nombuso kaNkulunkulu oseduze. Sikholelwa ukuthi kuwumcimbi wokuphila nokufa. Kuyikufa ukuhlala uxhumene nalezo zinhlangano ezikhuluma ngokwedelela ngokufika kweNkosi noma eziphikisana nakho. Kuyimpilo ukuphuma kuwo wonke umkhuba wabantu, ume ezwini likaNkulunkulu, futhi ulindele nsuku zonke ukuvela kweNkosi. Ngakho-ke manje sithi kubo bonke ababoshwe nganoma iyiphi indlela ngomthwalo wobugqila, ‘Phumani phakathi kwabo, nihlukaniswe, kusho iNkosi, ningathinti lutho olungcolile; ngizokwamukela, ngizoba uBaba kini, nibe amadodana namadodakazi ami, kusho iNkosi Wonke-amandla.’”⁸

GSAM 175Ukuphikisana Okungachazeki

GSAM 175.1U-Wm. Miller ukhuluma ngale ndlela ngengxabano eyayikhona ngaleso sikhathi phakathi kwamabandla nama-Adventist:—

GSAM 175.2“Akulungile ngokuphelele futhi akunamqondo ukuthi amabandla amaKristu akhiphe lesi sifundo kanye namalungu awo ngenxa yaleli themba elibusisiwe. Ngiyazi amanye amabandla amaBaptist athi awabavali ngenxa yokholo lwabo, kodwa ngenxa yokuhlanganyela kwabo nabakholwa bokufika. Ngakho-ke uma kungesikho ngenxa yokholo lwabo kuMsindisi ozayo, kungani ngivinjwe emapulpitini abo, mina ongakaze ngihlanganyele nanoma yiliphi ibandla ngaphandle kwebandla lamaBaptist? Isizathu esingamanga. Kodwa lokhu ngeke kube isizathu samaMethodist namaPresbyterian; ngoba bakholelwa ekuhlanganyeleni eSidlweni seNkosi namakholwa akwamanye amabandla. Kungani bewaxosha amalungu? Ngizwe ngabanye abakhishiwe ngenxa ‘yokucula’ izingoma zokufika kwesibili kukaKristu; abanye ngenxa yokuphazamiseka kwengqondo, kanti konke ukuphazamiseka kwengqondo okwafakazelwa ngokumelene nabo kwakuwukuthi babelindele uKristu. O Nkulunkulu, ‘babaxolele, ngoba abazi abakwenzayo.’”

GSAM 176UStorrs mayelana Nesimo Samabandla

GSAM 176.1UGeorge Storrs wakhuluma ngesimo samabandla maqondana nama-Adventist, ngale ndlela:—

GSAM 176.2“Yiziphi kuzo, ngalesi sikhathi, ezingasho ukuthi, ‘Ngihleli njengenkosikazi’? Futhi yiziphi kuzo ezingazijabulisi ngombono wokuthi ngelinye ilanga zizowina umhlaba, nokuthi umhlaba uzobekwa ngaphansi kokholo lwazo? Yiziphi kuzo ezizovumela umphefumulo ukuthi uhlale phakathi kwazo ngokuthula, owamukela ngokusobala nangokungesabi ukholo lwakhe ekufikeni okusemnyango? Ingabe imigomo yokuhlala phakathi kwabo ngokuthula akusikho ukuthi ‘uyeke ngokuphelele’ ukuveza esidlangalaleni ukholo lwakho ekufikeni kweNkosi kulo nyaka, noma ngabe izinkolelo zakho zimi kanjani ngalolu daba, futhi noma ngabe uzizwa kubalulekile kangakanani ukumemeza ukuthi, ‘Yesabani uNkulunkulu, nimnike udumo, ngoba sekufikile isikhathi sokwahlulela kwakhe’?”

GSAM 176Ubufakazi bukaMansfield

GSAM 176.3U-L. D. Mansfield, ebhala evela e-Oneida, eNew York, mhla ziyi-21 kuMashi 1844, ubhala kanje:—

GSAM 176.4“UNkulunkulu uyasebenza ezingqondweni zezingane zakhe ezithandekayo ezilindele iNkosi ivela ezulwini, futhi ubaqondisa hhayi kuphela ukuba baqaphele ingelosi ‘enevangeli eliphakade lokushumayela, ithi, Isikhathi sokwahlulela kwakhe sesifikile,’ kodwa nokulalela umyalo olandelayo, ‘Phumani kuyo, bantu bami!’ Ngiyaqiniseka ngokuphelele kunanini ngaphambili ukuthi izinhlangano zenkolo zanamuhla ziyingxenye enkulu yalelo Bhabhiloni elizophonswa phansi ngodlame, futhi lingasazukubonakala nhlobo.... Kodwa kubonakala kimi ukuthi kwezinye zalezi zinhlangano ukufana nophondo oluncane kuyamangalisa kakhulu. Ezinye izibonelo zizochaza kahle lokhu.

GSAM 176Umoya Wesixuku Esinodlame Ubonakala

GSAM 176.5“Umfowethu owayesebenza ngempumelelo enkulu kule ndawo ekushumayeleni ukuza kweNkosi wahlela inkulumo endaweni ethile ngesikhathi esithile. INkosi yahlela ukuthi abe semamayela ayishumi nesithupha kude nendawo yokuhlangana, kodwa kwakukhona umshumayeli we-_____ ehola isixuku esinodlame, ephethe itiyela nezimpaphe ngenhloso yokuzifaka kuleyo nceku kaNkulunkulu Ophakeme. Lo mshumayeli ofanayo waqala umhlangano omude maduzane, kodwa konke kwakubanda futhi kwakuyiqhwa njengeqhwa lasenyakatho—akukho miphefumulo evukile noma eguqukile. Ekugcineni umshumayeli wathi wayekholelwa ukuthi ‘kuzofanele athathe isihlalo sabakhathazekile.’

GSAM 177.1“Umholi wekilasi kule ndawo wathi ekilasini lakhe, selokhu siqala izihlangano lapha, ukuthi uma kukhona umuntu ongene endlini yakhe athi ukholelwa ukuthi uKristu uzofika kulo nyaka, uzomxosha ngaphandle.”

GSAM 177Isibopho Emabandleni

GSAM 177.2Ngalesi sikhathi sizokwethula ubufakazi obuvela enkulumweni eyayinikezelwe engqungqutheleni yokufika kwabakholwa ababehlangene eBoston, eMassachusetts, ngomhla ka-31 Meyi 1844, esayinwe nguWm. Miller, Elon Galusha, N. N. Whiting, Apollos Hale, noJ. V. Himes. Bathi:—

GSAM 177.3“Mayelana nomsebenzi wethu emabandleni singaphinde sisho igama. Ingozi lapha, njengakwezinye izimo eziningi, ibonakala kithi ukuthi isekweqiseni. Uhlobo lokuqala lwengozi wukuvumela igunya lebandla esingahlanganyela nalo ukuthi lisithule kulo mbuzo womsebenzi. Asingabazi ukuthi izinkulungwane zabantu ziye zizibeka esigwebo phambi kukaNkulunkulu ngokuvuma izimangalo ezingahambisani neBhayibheli zamabandla abo kulo mcimbi; laba, uma bebezimisele futhi bethembekile, manje bebengaba sesimweni esiphephile kakhulu futhi bewusizo olukhulu, yize nabo bebengabizwa ukuba babekezelele ukuhlupheka.

GSAM 177.4“Uhlobo lwesibili lwengozi wukuvuma umoya wokuziphindisela emabandleni ngenxa yokungabi nabulungisa kwawo kithi, nokuqhuba impi engakhethi nhlobo kuzo zonke izinhlangano ezinjalo. Mayelana nomsebenzi wama-Adventist, maqondana namabandla abangase babe nokuxhumana nawo, uma sasicelwa ukwenza kanjalo, besingeke sinikeze imiyalelo engasebenza kubo bonke. Kumele benze ngokwesaba uNkulunkulu, njengoba izimo zecala zidinga.

GSAM 178.1“Kodwa-ke, kumele sibe nokuzimisela ekwenzeni umsebenzi wethu, ekufakazeleni iqiniso kuzo zonke izikhathi ezifanele nezifanele. Futhi uma ngokulandela le ndlela sikhubekisa amabandla, futhi esisongela ngokusisusa ngaphandle ngaphandle kokuthi sithule (nakuba uma sibona kufanelekile ukuphula ubudlelwano bethu nebandla ngokuthula, kungaba indlela engcono), masenze isibopho sethu, futhi lapho sesisusiwe, sibe nokubekezela ekubhekaneni nokungabi kulungile, futhi sizimisele noMphathi wethu ‘ukuphuma ngaphandle komnyango, siphatha ihlazo lakhe.’”

GSAM 178.2Kulezi zisho eziphathelene nesenzo samabandla kulabo ababeyisa umyalezo wengelosi yesibili, kuyabonakala kalula ukuthi, njengomphumela wokuqala wokunikeza lesi simemo sesibili “esidlweni sakusihlwa,” labo ababeqoqwe ndawonye esibayeni esisodwa somoya bayachazwa njenga“bakhubazekile,” “izinyonga,” kanye “nabangaboniyo,” okubonisa ngokusobala ukuphathwa kabi ababebhekene nakho ngenxa yokuthi “babethwa” ngabanye “abasebenzi babo,” ababebehlukaniswe nabo.

GSAM 178Abantu Abahlukile Abakhethiwe Ukuthola Iqiniso Elisha

GSAM 178.3Inhloso yeNkosi iyabonakala ngokusobala ekukhululeni isizwe esihlukile ngaphansi kokumemezelwa komyalezo weNgelosi yesibili—ukumemezelwa kwesibili “esidlweni”—kanye “nesikhalo sezinzulwini.” Iqiniso eliyigugu lezinsuku zokugcina kwakufanele lifunwe futhi likhishwe obala—umsebenzi ongakwenzeki emabandleni “abophekile ezinkolweni” njengokumemeza ivangeli emhlabeni ongakwenzeki ebandleni labaphostoli ngenkathi lisaxhumene namahlelo amaJuda. UNkulunkulu wabiza ukuhlukana lapho,⁹ futhi wabiza ukuhlukana kwabakholwa bokufika kulabo ababezama ukubabopha emigqeni yezinkolelo zabo.

GSAM 179“Six Sermons” kaStorrs

GSAM 179.1Maduzane ngemva kokuphuma kwabo, siqaphela ukuthi ukukhanya kwafika emaqenjini abakholwa ekuzeni kukaKristu ngendaba yokujeziswa okuzayo, njengoba kuchazwe encwajeni ethi, “Six Sermons,” kaGeorge Storrs, ethatha isikhundla sokuthi umuntu ngokwemvelo uyafa; ukuthi abafileyo abazi lutho phakathi kokufa nokuvuka kwabafileyo; ukuthi isigwebo sokugcina sabangamkholwa kuzoba ukushabalala ngokuphelele; nokuthi ukungafi kuyisipho sikaNkulunkulu, esizotholakala kuphela ngokholo kuNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.

GSAM 179.2Izinkulungwane zama-Adventist zamukela lesi sifundo ngemvelo yomuntu, kodwa akuzange kube bonke. Ukuphikiswa kwaso akuzange kubangele ukudideka phakathi kwabo, njengoba kwakubhekwa njengendaba yokholo nje kuphela, hhayi njengokuhlolwa kokuziphatha; ngakho-ke umzamo wabo obumbene wokuxwayisa umhlaba ngokuseduze kokufika kukaKristu waqhubeka ungaphazamiseki. Nokho, kwaba nomphumela wokuvusa intukuthelo yamabandla ngokumelene nabo.

GSAM 179Abakwazi ukuphikisa “Six Sermons”

GSAM 179.3Umshumayeli wamaMethodist edolobheni engangihlala kulo, owake wahlanganyela ekushumayeleni imfundiso yokufika ngo-1843, wamukela “Six Sermons,” wayifunda, wavuma phambi kwamalungu ebandla lakhe ukuthi akanamandla okuyiphikisa le mfundiso; kodwa lapho ethola ukuthi abaningi bamalungu ebandla lakhe bayayamukela, wancoma abanye ukuthi bangayifundi le ncwadi, ngoba “bazokholelwa kule mfundiso uma beyifunda.” NgoSepthemba ka-1844, ngemuva kokubuya kwalo mshumayeli emhlanganweni wonyaka, wavuka epulipthini lakhe waphika ngokusobala imfundiso yokufika, wacela ngokuzithoba ukuxolelwa kwebandla ngokumema abakhulumi ukuba bakhulume endlini.

GSAM 179Wahlulelwa ngokuphambuka emfundisweni

GSAM 179.4Lesi senzo somshumayeli salandelwa ngokushesha umzamo wokubhekana nabakholwa bokufika ngokuba ngabaphikisi; kodwa njengoba bavunyelwe ukuzivikela ngezindaba zabo kusukela eBhayibhelini, akuzange kube nempumelelo ebandleni. Abanye bavinjwa ebandleni ngoba indlela yabo yayingahambisani nomthetho wokuziphatha, kwathi abanye abaningi baphuma ngenxa yokuvinjwa kwalamalungu abakukholwa kwabo kwakungekho bufakazi bokuthi kuphikisana nemiBhalo. Ngakho-ke imfundiso yokufika yavalwa unomphela ebandleni lapho amakhulu abantu ayezuze uMsindisi futhi bajabula kuNkulunkulu.

GSAM 180.1Lokho okwenzeka edolobheni lami lasekhaya kwaphinde kwenziwa emabandleni angamakhulu ezweni lonke. Labo abaphathwe kanjalo ngabazalwane babo bangaphambilini bathola induduzo enkulu emazwini omprofethi Isaya: “Yizwani izwi leNkosi, nina enesaba izwi lakhe. Abafowenu ababenizonda, ababenixosha ngenxa yegama lami, bathi, Akuhlonishwe iNkosi; kodwa yena uzovela kube yinjabulo yenu, futhi bona bazoba namahloni.”¹⁰

GSAM 180Intukuthelo Yababi Evezwe

GSAM 180.2Njengoba usuku lapho iNkosi yayilindelwe lwalusondela, abakholwayo baba nokuzimisela okwengeziwe emisebenzini yabo, kanti abangamkholwa bathukuthela futhi bahlambalaza ngokwengeziwe, njengoba kuzobonakala esitatimendeni esilandelayo esenziwe ngumhleli weMidnight Cry ka-31 Okthoba 1844:—

GSAM 180.3“Umphumela walo mkhankaso kubabi waphinde wasisiza kakhulu ekuqinisekiseni ukholo lwethu lokuthi uNkulunkulu wayekulo. Lapho izingane zikaNkulunkulu zihlangene ukuze zigobe futhi zizithobe phambi kwakhe, futhi zilungiselele ukuvela kwakhe, njengoba kwakufanele kwenziwe iqembu laboni abangasindiswa ngomusa kuphela, abangamhloniphi babonisa ububi obukhulu kakhulu. Lapho singazange sinikeze isaziso ngemihlangano yethu ngaphandle kwephephandaba lethu, futhi singamenyanga umphakathi khona, amadodana kaBelial agcwalisa lezo zindawo, adala ukuphazamiseka okukhulu. Ngobusuku boMgqibelo, mhla ziyi-12 kule nyanga [Okthoba 12, 1844], asizange sibambe mhlangano etabernakeleni, ukuze umgcini wendawo [umgcini-zindlu] athole ithuba lokuhlanza indlu ngaphambi kweSabatha [uSonto]. Kodwa isixuku sangena ngenkani endlini, saphika ngisho nalelo thuba. UMeya, noma engacelwanga, wangena phakathi ngokushesha, wasigxotha.

GSAM 181.1“Emhlanganweni wethu ngeSabatha elalandelayo, ngemva kokugcwala kwetabernakeli, isixuku esikhulu sagcwalisa umgwaqo phambi kwesakhiwo, abaningi babo bethukuthele ngokuthi kukhona abakholelwa ekufikeni kweNkosi. Ngasihlwa, ngenxa yokuvukela kwabantu, akuzange kube nomhlangano; kodwa umgwaqo wagcwala isixuku kusenesikhathi; kodwa ukungenelela ngokushesha kukameya namaphoyisa akhe asebenza kahle kwahambisa isixuku emgwaqweni, ngemva kokuthumela abambalwa ejele lokugada. Singafanisa kuphela ukuziphatha kwesixuku nalokho okwenzeka emnyango kaLoti ngobusuku ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweSodoma.... Lolu hlelo lwabo lwashesha kakhulu, lwenzeka ngasikhathi sinye, futhi lwaba banzi kangangokuthi ukuvela kwalo ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yesikhombisa yamaJuda kwasinika ukuqiniseka ukuthi le yiyo inyanga.”

GSAM 181Abahleki Bagqoka Izingubo Zokunyukela Ezulwini

GSAM 181.2Ngo-22 ku-Okthoba 1844, usuku lapho izinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu zaphothulwa, eParis, eMaine, ngenkathi abakholwayo behlangene endlini yokukhuleka, bezibophezele ekuthandazeni ngokuzithoba kuNkulunkulu, belindele ukuthi iNkosi izofika ngalolo suku, abahleki abahlekisayo bahlangana eduze kwendlu, becula izingoma zokuhlekisa. Ababili kulaba bahleki bafaka izingubo ezinde ezimhlophe bakhuphuka phezu kwendlu, bacula izingoma, bahlambalaza labo ababekhona endlini ababekhuleka belindele iNkosi ukuthi ifike.

GSAM 181.3Kungenzeka ukuthi ngenxa yalesi sigameko kwaqhamuka amanga adume ngokuthi ama-Adventist agqoka izingubo zokunyukela ezulwini; ngoba naphezu kokuthi amaphephandaba ama-Adventist anikele ngemiklomelo efinyelela ku-$500 ngesibonelo esisodwa sangempela somuntu ongumAdventist ogqoke ingubo yokunyukela ezulwini ngo-1844, elinde iNkosi ukuthi ifike, akukaze kuvele nhlobo udaba olunjalo.

GSAM 182Umbono kaHazen Foss, 1844

GSAM 182.1Ngalesi sikhathi kwakuhlala ePoland, eMaine, indoda esencane egama layo linguHazen Foss, eyayikholelwa ngokuqinile ukuthi iNkosi izofika ngosuku lwe-10 lwenyanga yesikhombisa. Wayeyindoda ebukeka kahle, enendlela yokuziphatha ethandekayo, futhi efundiswe kahle. Amasonto ambalwa ngaphambi kokuphela “kwesikhalo sezinzulwini”, iNkosi yasondela yamnika umbono, lapho kwavezwa khona uhambo lwabantu bokufika oluya edolobheni likaNkulunkulu, nezingozi ababezihlangabezana nazo. Wanikezwa imilayezo ethile yokuxwayisa ayezoletha, futhi wabona nezilingo nokuhlukunyezwa okwakuzolandela uma ethembekile ekuxoxeni ngalokho ayekubonisiwe. Yena, njengoMnu. Foy, waboniswa izinyathelo ezintathu okwakumele ngazo abantu bakaNkulunkulu bafike ngokuphelele endleleni eya edolobheni elingcwele. Njengoba ayekholelwa ngokuqinile ekufikeni kweNkosi “ezinsukwini ezimbalwa ezizayo” (njengoba babecula ngaleso sikhathi), ingxenye yombono ephathelene nezinyathelo ezintathu endleleni yayingachazeki kuye; futhi ngokwemvelo enomoya wokuzigqaja, wahoxa esiphambanweni, wenqaba ukuyixoxa. Lo mbono waphindwa okwesibili, futhi watshelwa ukuthi uma engasavumi ukuxoxa ngalokho ayekhonjisiwe, umthwalo uzosuswa kuye, unikezwe omunye wabantwana beNkosi ababuthakathaka kakhulu, ozokwazisa ngokwethembeka lokho uNkulunkulu azokudalula. Waphinda wanqaba. Kwabe sekunikezwa umbono wesithathu, kwathiwa kuye ukuthi ukhululiwe, kanti umthwalo wabekwa komunye wababuthakathaka kunabo bonke, ozokwenza intando yeNkosi.

GSAM 182UFoss Wehluleka Ukuxoxa Ngombono Wakhe

GSAM 182.2Lokhu kwamethusa lowo mfana, wanquma ukuxoxa ngalokho ayekhonjisiwe, ngakho-ke wamemezela usuku lokuhlangana. Abantu bahlangana ndawonye ukuze babone futhi bezwe. Wachaza ngokucophelela isipiliyoni sakhe, ukuthi wayenqabile ukuxoxa ngalokho iNkosi eyayimbonisile, nokuthi kwakuzovela muphi umphumela ekwenqabeni kwakhe. “Manje,” kusho yena, “ngizoxoxa ngombono.” Kodwa maye! kwakusele sekwephuzile: wamile phambi kwabantu ethule njengesithombe, ekugcineni wathi ngokuhlupheka okujulile, “Angisakhumbuli nelizwi elilodwa lombono.” Wazunguza izandla zakhe ngokudabuka, ethi, “UNkulunkulu ugcwalise ilizwi lakhe. Usekhiphe kimi umbono,” futhi ngokudabuka okukhulu kwengqondo wathi, “Ngiyindoda elahlekile.” Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi walahlekelwa ithemba lakhe kuKristu, wangena esimweni sokudikibala. Akazange aphinde aye emhlanganweni wama-Adventist, futhi wayengenandaba nenkolo. Ukuziphatha kwakhe ngezindlela eziningi, okungenani, kwakunjengalowo onqanyuliwe ethonyeni elithambile loMoya woMphathi, lowo “oseshiywe ezindleleni zakhe, agcwaliswe izenzo zakhe.” Kulesi simo sengqondo washona ngo-1893.

GSAM 183Umbono kaFoss Owalandiswa Omunye

GSAM 183.1Cishe ezinyangeni ezintathu selokhu ahluleka ukukhumbula umbono wakhe, wezwa omunye umbono owawudluliswa omunye umuntu egumbini eliseduze. Umhlangano wawubanjelwe endlini yokuhlala ayehlala kuyo. Wacelwa ukuthi angene emhlanganweni, kodwa wenqaba. Wathi umbono wawufana nalowo ayewuboniswe ngangokuthi abantu ababili bangawudlulisela ngendlela efanayo. Ngakho-ke kwaziwa lokho ayekubonile kodwa ayengakwazi ukukukhumbula lapho ezama ukukudlulisela. Ngesikhathi ebona lowo muntu kamuva, wathi, “Lowo ngumuntu iNkosi ebeke kuye umthwalo.”

GSAM 183Ukudumazeka Okudabukisayo

GSAM 183.2Usuku lwe-10 lwenyanga yesikhombisa, ngokwesikhathi samaJuda (22 Okthoba 1844), ekugcineni lwafika. Lwathola izinkulungwane ngezinkulungwane zabantu ababebheke kulo mzuzu ukuze amathemba abo agcwaliseke. Babengazange benze amalungiselelo ezinto zomhlaba ngaphaya kwalelo suku. Bebengakaze bacabange ngisho ukuthi, “uma ingafiki,” kodwa bahlele izindaba zabo zomhlaba njengokungathi bebelindele ukuthi lolo suku luphethe isikhathi sempilo yabo yemvelo. Bebexwayisa futhi bekhuthaza abenzi bokubi ukuba baphunyuke entukuthelweni ezayo, futhi abaningi babo babesaba ukuthi lo myalezo ungase ube yiqiniso. Babenikeza izeluleko futhi bekhuleka nezihlobo zabo, futhi bavalelisa labo abangazange banikele izinhliziyo zabo kuNkulunkulu. Ngamafuphi, babesevele bashiya zonke izinto zomhlaba ngokuzithoba okukhulu komuntu ozibheka sengathi uzobonana ubuso ngobuso noMahluleli womhlaba wonke. Ngakho-ke, ngokukhathazeka okukhulu, bahlangana ezindaweni zabo zokukhuleka, belindele, noma yinini, ukuzwa “izwi lengelosi enkulu netrompethi kaNkulunkulu,” nokubona izulu livutha ngobuqaqawuli boMbusi wabo ozayo.

GSAM 184.1Amahora adlula kancane, kwathi ekugcineni ilanga lahleka ngaphansi komngcele wasentshonalanga, usuku lweshumi lwamaJuda lwenyanga yesikhombisa lwaphetha. Ubusuku baphinde bendlala ingubo yabo emnyama emhlabeni; kodwa kulelo mnyama kwavela ubuhlungu bokudabuka ezinhliziyweni zabakholwa bokufika, obunjalo bungafana kuphela nokudabuka kwabafundi beNkosi yethu, njengoba ngokuzithoba babebuya emakhaya abo ngobusuku obalandela ukubethelwa kwakhe esiphambanweni nokungcwaba lowo ababehambisane naye ngokunqoba bengena eJerusalema esikhathini esifushane ngaphambili njengeNkosi yabo.