Isahluko 17 — Iqiniso Elithuthukiswe Ngaphansi Kwezinselelo

GSAM 265.1“Njengomelusi efuna izimvu zakhe ngosuku lapho ekhona phakathi kwezimvu zakhe ezisakazekile; kanjalo ngizofuna izimvu zami, ngizozikhulula kuzo zonke izindawo lapho zisakazeke khona ngosuku lwefu nomnyama.”¹

GSAM 265.2Labo ababeyemukele umyalezo weNgelosi yesithathu kuya kuleyo nkathi (1847) babengabampofu ngempahla yaleli zwe, ngakho-ke babengakwazi ukwenza okuningi ngokwezimali ekusabalaliseni umyalezo. UMfundisi White nomkakhe kanye noMfundisi Bates babona ukubaluleka komsebenzi womuntu siqu phakathi kwabafowethu abasakazekile, kanye nesidingo sokulungisa izinto zokufunda ukuze zibekwe ezandleni zabantu, njengosizo ekubaholeleni olwazini lweqiniso. UMfundisi uBates wasizwa kakhulu ekwethuleni umbuzo weSabatha ngencwajana yakhe ngalesi sihloko, njengoba wayehamba ezindaweni ezahlukene, nangokusabalalisa le ncwajana ngeposi. Wasebenza ngokuzimisela okukhulu.

GSAM 265Ukuzidela Kukadadewethu Osemncane Ngenxa Yeqiniso

GSAM 265.3Ngesinye isikhathi, engenaso isamba semali yokukhokha amathikithi akhe, wayezohamba ngezinyawo esuka eMassachusetts waya eNew Hampshire. Ngaleso sikhathi wathola incwadi evela kudadewethu osakhulayo owayezibophezele ukwenza imisebenzi yasekhaya ngama-$1 ngesonto ukuze abe nokuthile angakusiza kulolu daba. Ngemva kokusebenza isonto elilodwa, wathinteka kakhulu ngomqondo wokuthi uMfundisi Bates udinga imali, wabe eseya kumqashi wakhe wathola inkokhelo kusengaphambili ukuze akwazi ukumthumelela ngokushesha u-$5. Ngale mali wakhokha imali yakhe yokuhamba waya eNew Hampshire ngezithuthi zomphakathi. Endaweni ngayinye wayenemihlangano emihle, futhi imiphefumulo eminingi yamukela iqiniso.

GSAM 266Ukugcina Indlu Ngefenisha Ebolekiwe

GSAM 266.1Ukuze sibonise umoya wokuzidela owawuphefumulela abaqalayo kulo myalezo, siqaphela okulandelayo esitatimendeni sikaNkk. White ngesimo sabo ebusika buka-1847-48, lapho babehlala khona emagumbini endlini enkulu kaS. Howland, eTopsham, eMaine, lapho bahlela khona ikhaya ngempahla abayibolekile:—

GSAM 266.2“Besiswele, sabhekana nezikhathi ezinzima. Umyeni wami wayesebenza ekuhambiseni amatshe emzileni wesitimela, okwenza isikhumba seminwe yakhe saphela, kwaphuma igazi ezindaweni eziningi. Besizimisele ukungaxhomekeki, kodwa ukuzimela nokuba nezinsiza zokusiza abanye. Kodwa asizange siphumelele. Umyeni wami wasebenza kanzima kakhulu, kodwa akazange athole imali eyayimfanele ngomsebenzi wakhe.

GSAM 266UMfundisi White eSika Izinkuni Zokufudumeza

GSAM 266.3“Umyeni wami washiya umzila wesitimela, wathwala izembe lakhe wangena emahlathini ukuyogawula izinkuni zokubasa. Ehlushwa ubuhlungu obungapheli eceleni komzimba wakhe, wasebenza kusukela ekuseni kakhulu kuze kube ebusuku ukuze athole cishe amasenti angamashumi amahlanu ngosuku. Ubuhlungu obukhulu babumvimba ukuthi alale ebusuku. Maduzane sathola izincwadi ezivela kubafowethu ezifundazweni ezahlukene zisimema ukuthi siye sivakashele kubo; kodwa njengoba sasingenayo indlela yokusishiya isifundazwe, impendulo yethu yayingukuthi indlela ayivulekanga phambi kwethu.

GSAM 266.4“Sathola incwadi evela kuMfowethu Chamberlain, waseConnecticut, esikhuthaza ukuthi siye engqungqutheleni kuleso sifundazwe. Sanquma ukuya uma singathola izindlela. Umyeni wami waxazulula izindaba nomqashi wakhe, wathola ukuthi kwakukhona amadola ayishumi ayemele amukelwe. Ngesigamu salawa ngathenga izingubo ezazidingeka kakhulu, ngabe sengilungisa i-overcoat yomyeni wami, ngisho ngahlanganisa izicucu zokulungisa, kwaba nzima ukubona indwangu yokuqala ezingalweni. Kwasala amadola amahlanu okusithatha siya eDorchester, eMass. Ibhokisi lethu lempahla laligcwele cishe yonke into esasinayo emhlabeni. Kodwa sasijabulela ukuthula kwengqondo nonembeza ohlanzekile, futhi lokhu sasikubeka ngaphezulu kwanoma yiziphi izinto zomhlaba.

GSAM 267.1“Sashaya emnyango wendlu kaMfowethu Nichols, futhi ngaphambi kokuba sihambe, uDade Nichols wanikela umyeni wami amadola amahlanu, awakhokhela uhambo lwethu oluya eMiddletown, eConn. Sasingabantu abangaziwa kulelo dolobha, futhi sasingakaze sibone omunye wabafowethu esifundazweni. Kwasala amasenti angamashumi amahlanu kuphela. Umyeni wami akazange abe nesibindi sokusebenzisa leyo mali ukuqasha inqola, ngakho waphonsa ibhokisi phezu kwephayili lamabhodi, futhi saqhubeka sihamba sifuna umuntu onokholo olufanayo. Maduzane sathola uMfowethu Chamberlain, owasiqhuba waya endlini yakhe.”

GSAM 267Ingqungquthela eRocky Hill, eConn.

GSAM 267.2Lo mhlangano wabanjwa eRocky Hill, igumbi lokuhlangana lalingegumbi elikhulu elingakaqedwa endlini kaMfowethu Belden. Okulandelayo okukhiphwe incwadi ebhalwe nguMfundisi White kuS. Howland kunikeza imininingwane ethokozisayo mayelana nomhlangano:—

GSAM 267.3“Ngo-Ephreli 20, uMfowethu Belden wathumela i-wagon yakhe eMiddletown ukuzosithatha thina nabafowethu abasakazekile kulelo dolobha. Safika endaweni yakhe [eRocky Hill] cishe ngo-4 ntambama, kwathi ngemizuzu embalwa kwangena oFowethu Bates noGurney. Sabamba umhlangano ngalobo busuku nabantu abacishe babe ngu-15. NgoLwesihlanu ekuseni abafowethu baqhubeka befika kwaze kwaba cishe abangu-50. Laba babengakabi bonke ngokuphelele eqinisweni. Umhlangano wethu ngalolo suku wawuthakazelisa kakhulu. Umfowethu Bates wethula imiyalo ngokucacile, futhi ukubaluleka kwayo kugcizelelwa ngobufakazi obunamandla. Izwi lalisebenza ukuqinisa labo ababevele beseqinisweni, nokuvusa labo abangakazimiseli ngokuphelele.”²

GSAM 267Samenywa e-Oswego County, eN.Y.

GSAM 267.4Ngenxa yokusabalala kwencwajana kaMfundisi Bates phakathi kwama-Adventist, abantu kwezinye izifundazwe baqala ukugcina iSabatha. UHiram Edson, wasePort Gibson, eN.Y., wabhala emema uMfundisi noNkk. White nabanye ukuba baye emhlanganweni wabagcini beSabatha eVolney, eOswego County, ngo-Agasti 1848. Wathi abazalwane babengabampofu ngokuvamile, futhi wayengeke athembise ukuthi bazokwenza okuningi ekukhokheni izindleko. UMfundisi White wayethola ama-$40 njengomphumela womsebenzi awenzile ensimini yotshani. Ingxenye yalokhu yasetshenziswa ekuthengeni izingubo ezazidingeka kakhulu, kanti okusele kwakhokhela uhambo lwabo oluya eVolney nokubuya.

GSAM 268.1Lo mhlangano eNtshonalanga yeNew York wawubanjelwe endlini yezinqola kaMnu. Arnold. Kwakukhona cishe abantu abangamashumi amathathu nanhlanu ababekhona, bonke ababengaba khona kuleso sifunda seSifundazwe, kodwa kwakungekho ababili babo abavumelana ngalutho. Umuntu ngamunye wayezimisele ngokuphathelene nemibono yakhe, ememezela ukuthi yayihambisana neBhayibheli. Bonke babefuna ukukhuthaza imibono yabo nokuyishumayela. Batshelwa ukuthi uMfundisi White nomkakhe abazange bafike kude kangaka ukuze bazobalalela, kodwa babeze ukuzobafundisa iqiniso. UMnu. Arnold wayekholelwa ukuthi iminyaka eyinkulungwane yeSambulo 20 seyidlule esikhathini esedlule, nokuthi izinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane ezishiwo eSambulweni kwakuyilabo abavusiwe ekuvukeni kukaKristu.

GSAM 268UMnu. Arnold uphikisa imigomo yenkonzo

GSAM 268.2Njengoba izimpawu zeNkosi yethu efayo zazibekwe phambi kwale nhlangano, futhi njengoba zazizokwethula ukukhumbula ukuhlupheka kwakhe, uMnu. Arnold wavuka wathi akanakho ukholo kulokho ababeyokwenza—ukuthi isidlo seNkosi siwukuqhubeka kwePhasika, okumele sigujwe kanye ngonyaka.

GSAM 268.3Lezi zingxabano ezingajwayelekile zemibono zamthwalisa kanzima uNkk. White. Wayazi kahle ukuthi uMnu. Arnold wayephutha, futhi usizi olukhulu lwamcindezela, ngoba kwakubonakala sengathi uNkulunkulu wayengahlonishwa. Abanye babesaba ukuthi wayeseyofa; kodwa oMfundisi Bates, White, Chamberlain, Gurney, no-Edson bamkhulekela, futhi iNkosi ngomusa yezwa imithandazo yezinceku zayo, waphinda waphila. Ukukhanya kwasezulwini kwahlala phezu kwakhe, kwathi masinyane wayengasazi izinto zomhlaba. Esekelokhu esesimweni lesi, waboniswa ezinye zeziphambeko zabakhona, kanye neqiniso eliphikisana nalezi ziphambeko, ekhombisa ukuthi le mibono engavumelani, ababebiza ngokuthi iyahambisana neBhayibheli, yayingokwemibono yabo kuphela ngeBhayibheli, nokuthi kumele bayeke iziphambeko zabo, bahlanganyele emyalezweni wengelosi yesithathu. Umhlangano waphela ngenkazimulo; iqiniso lanqoba. Labo ababambe le mibono ezihlukahlukene ezingajwayelekile bavuma amaphutha abo, bahlanganyela eqinisweni langaleso sikhathi lomyalezo wengelosi yesithathu, futhi uNkulunkulu wababusisa kakhulu.

GSAM 269Umbono Nokusetshenziswa okumangalisayo kweBhayibheli

GSAM 269.1Le ndaba elandelayo ngalo mhlangano yanikezwa nguMnu. Alexander Ross, mhla ziyi-4 Januwari 1884, owayengomunye wabangu-35 ababekhona kulo mhlangano omncane. Wathi:—

GSAM 269.2“UDade White, esesimweni sombono, wavuka wema wabamba iBhayibheli lomndeni ngesandla sakhe sokunxele; incwadi yayingosayizi ojwayelekile. Ngesikhathi elibambe livulekile, phezulu, engabheki kulo, ngesandla sakhe sokudla wayeshintsha kusuka kwesinye isahluko aye kwesinye, ebeka umunwe wakhe eBhayibhelini, wayephinda okwakubhalwe khona. Ngabheka eziningi zezindima ukuze ngibone ukuthi wayephinda yini leyo ayebhekisela kuyo. Mina noma abanye babantu ababekhona babebheka zonke izindima. Kuzo zonke izikhathi, akazange aphinde nje indima ayebhekisela kuyo, kodwa wayekwenza lokhu amehlo akhe ebheke phezulu futhi ebheke ngakolunye uhlangothi kude neBhayibheli. Yizo lezi zindima ayeziphinda ezazidiliza izimfundiso ezingamanga zabagcini beSabatha ababebuthene eVolney, ngo-Agasti 1848, futhi zasenza sahlanganyela eqinisweni.”

GSAM 269.3Ngempela, bekungeke kube lula ukukholisa lowo ongazange anqabe iphutha lemfundiso elalilungisiwe ngaphansi kwezimo ezinjalo, ngemibhalo ecacile ecashunwe eBhayibhelini nangale ndlela emangalisayo. Leli qembu labagcini beSabatha e-Oswego County, ngemva kokulungiswa kwamaphutha abo ngale ndlela nokuhlanganyela kwabo eqinisweni, lashiya lowo mhlangano laya ukusabalalisa ukukhanya kwabanye. Imiphumela ngempela yayiphakamisa ubufakazi bokuthi ngumsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. USathane uhlale elungele ukuhlukanisa, ukuphazamisa, nokusabalalisa, nganoma yiziphi izindlela angazisebenzisa. “UNkulunkulu akayena umqambi wokudideka, kodwa wokuthula, njengasezikhungweni zonke zabangcwele.”³

GSAM 270Izimo Ezimangalisayo Zokuphulukisa

GSAM 270.1Ngemva kwengqungquthela eshiwo ngaphambilini, kwabanjwa imihlangano eMadison County, ePort Gibson, ePort Byron, naseNew York City. Emva kwalokho kwaba nomhlangano jikelele eConnecticut. Kwezinye zalezi zindawo iNkosi yasondela kakhulu ezincekweni zayo, namandla okuphilisa kaDokotela Omkhulu afika kwabagulayo njengempendulo emithandazweni eqotho yabantu bakhe njengoba belandela umthetho obekwe eNcwadini kaJakobe.⁴ Ngisho nabantu ababebizwa njengabangenathemba ngodokotela baphiliswa ezifweni zabo. Izigameko ezinobunjalo sezivame ukwenzeka ngezikhathi ezahlukene kusukela ngo-1845.

GSAM 270Abavulindlela Bayabekezelela Ubunzima

GSAM 270.2UMfundisi White, eReview and Herald, mhla ziyi-5 kuFebhuwari 1880, lapho ekhuluma ngalezo zinsuku zokuqala zabaphayona, wathi:—

GSAM 270.3“Emsebenzini wethu wokuqala sabhekana nendlala ngenxa yokuntuleka kokudla okufanele, nokubanda ngenxa yokuntuleka kokugqoka okufanele. Sazincisha ngisho nezidingo eziyisisekelo zokuphila ukuze sigcine imali ngenhloso kaNkulunkulu. Ngasikhathi sinye sasizikhandla kakhulu ukuze siqedele umsebenzi omningi owawudingeka wenziwe ekubhaleni, ekuhleleni, ekuhambeni nasekushumayeleni kusuka esifundazweni kuya kwesinye.”

GSAM 270.4Unyaka ka-1848 wawungunyaka okhumbulekayo, hhayi kuphela emlandweni wokufika kodwa nasezombusazweni. Iqiniso lomyalezo wengelosi yesithathu lachazwa kahle kakhulu, futhi indlela yavuleka ezindaweni ezahlukene ukuze umsebenzi uqhubeke. Ngalesi sikhathi izenzakalo emhlabeni wokuziphatha nasemiphakathini yezombusazwe zazithatha isimo esakhelwe ukuvusa kabusha ukunaka kwabafundi beziprofetho. Akukhona nje ukuthi kwakukhona ukudideka okukhulu phakathi kwezizwe zeMhlaba Omdala, kodwa eHydesville, eWayne Co., eN.Y., kwaqala izibonakaliso zeSpiritualism yanamuhla, okwathi abafundi beBhayibheli bathi kumele kube “imimoya yamadimoni, ezohlanganisa izizwe zomhlaba empini yosuku lweNkosi.”

GSAM 271Ukudideka Kwamazwe ngo-1848

GSAM 271.1Ngosuku lwe-21 kuFebhuwari 1848, lapho izinceku zikaLouis Phillippe waseFrance zihlangene zizungeze yena, wathi: “Angikaze ngihlale ngiqinile esihlalweni sobukhosi benhloko yombuso kunalobu busuku.” Ngesikhathi sokushona kwelanga kusihlwa okulandelayo, egqoke “ijazi elifushane lamatilosi,” ezifihle njengomshayeli wenqola eqashwayo, waphunyuka ngaphandle kwezindonga zedolobha laseParis efuna indawo yokuphepha yomuntu siqu. Kuthiwa imbangela yalolu shintsho olukhulu noluphuthumayo kwakuyisinyathelo ayesithathile sokweseka ukuthatha kombuso kukaPapa, okwacasula izakhamuzi zakhe namasosha akhe. Ngaleso suku wayeqede eParis ukubukwa okukhulu kwezempi kwempi yaseFrance; kwathi lapho izikhali zabo sezibekwe phansi, wabuyela esigodlweni, kwathi ngokuzumayo umfana omncane wagxuma phezu kwekhanoni, ephethe ifulegi elinemibala emithathu, ekhala ethi, “Phansi noPapa! PHANSI NOPAPA!!” Amasosha athatha lesi simemezelo, sadlula ngokushesha phakathi kwemigqa yabo, sithola amandla njengoba siqhubeka, kuze kwahlangana naso isimemezelo esithi, “FUTHI PHANSI NENKOSI!” Ngemva kwamahora ambalwa, iParis yonke yayingumcimbi wodideko olukhulu. Amasosha, ephethe izibhamu ezandleni, ehambisana nezixuku, ayegijima aye esigodlweni senkosi. Yena, lapho ezwa ngodideko, waphuthuma waphunyuka efihlakele.

GSAM 271Izizwe ezazibandakanyekile kulo mzabalazo

GSAM 271.2Umsindo nokungazinzi kweFrance kwasabalala ngokushesha kwamanye amazwe. IPrussia, iHanover, iSardinia, iSicily, iNaples, iVenice, iLombardy, iTuscany, neRoma zagcwala lowo moya ofanayo wezixuku. Phakathi nezinyanga ezintathu, iYurophu yonke yayivuswa, futhi imibuso yamakhosi namampheresa engaphezu kwamashumi amathathu yayisesiphazamisekweni esikhulu. Izihlalo zobukhosi zazishiswa emigwaqweni, amakhosi namampheresa babegijima bezifihla besaba ukulahlekelwa yizimpilo zabo. Abazombusazwe babikezele ukuthi kuzoba nenguquko jikelele kohulumeni bomhlaba wonke.

GSAM 272.1Iningi labashumayeli bama-Adventist abangakakuzwa okwamanje umyalezo wengelosi yesithathu, babona le nhlekelele, bacabanga ukuthi kumele kube ukubuthana kwezizwe “empini yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu Onamandla Onke.”⁵

GSAM 272Umyalezo Wokubeka Uphawu Watholakala

GSAM 272.2Ngalesi sikhathi ama-Adventist oSuku Lwesikhombisa babefunda eMibhalweni Engcwele ukuthi iSabatha lomyalelo wesine liyisibonakaliso, noma uphawu, lukaNkulunkulu ophilayo, nokuthi sekufikile isikhathi sokumemezela umyalezo wokubeka uphawu weSambulo 7:1-4, futhi babehlela izindlela nezindlela zokuletha lo myalezo kubantu. Ngesikhathi abantu bosuku lwesikhombisa belungiselela lo msebenzi, ama-Adventist osuku lokuqala ayesithi, “Seniphuzile ngomyalezo wenu wokubeka uphawu, ngoba impi yosuku olukhulu nokufika kweNkosi empeleni sekuseduze kithi.”

GSAM 272Umsindo Wathula Ngokuzumayo

GSAM 272.3Cishe ezinyangeni ezintathu kamuva, ukuvukela phakathi kwezizwe kwathula; hhayi, nokho, ngokuxazulula izikhalazo zabo, kodwa ngendlela abezindaba abangakwazanga ukuyichaza. Ngale nkinga, uHorace Greeley, eNew York Tribune, wathi: “Kwaba isimangaliso esikhulu kithi sonke ukuthi yini eyabangela ngokuzumayo ukudideka phakathi kwezizwe; kodwa isimangaliso esikhulu nakakhulu ukuthi yini eyakumisa.”

GSAM 272USenator Choate ngesimo seZwe Elidala

GSAM 272.4Sifika ku-1851, sithola uSenator Choate, ekukhulumeni phambi kweCongress yase-United States, ebhekisa esimweni sezinto eZweni Elidala, ethi:

GSAM 272.4“Lokho isimo nesimo sangempela, lapho izithunzi, amafu nobumnyama kubonakala kuhlezi phezu kwaso, nikuzwisisa ngokuphelele; ukuthi kungakanani ukungazinzi kwaso. Kubonakale kimi sengathi amalungelo okukhethekile amakhosi, namalungelo abantu, kanye nokuzonda okugciniwe iminyaka eyinkulungwane sekuzokhipha inkemba ukuze kuqale impi lapho igazi lizophuma khona, njengombono wokuphela komhlaba, ‘kuze kufike ematomwini amahhashi,’ futhi lapho uhlanga lonke lwabantu luzodlula; lapho insimbi enkulu yesikhathi izokhala elinye ihora; lapho umphakathi uqobo uzovivinywa ngumlilo nensimbi, ukuthi ngabe ungowemvelo nokaNkulunkulu wemvelo noma cha.”

GSAM 273“Ubufakazi” bukaNovemba 18, 1848

GSAM 273.1Labo ababebanga ukuthi lokhu kuqhuma phakathi kwezizwe ngo-1848 kwakuzoletha ukuza kweNkosi, bahlangabezana nokudumazeka okukhulu; kwakunjani ngama-Adventist oSuku Lwesikhombisa ababebanga ukuthi isikhathi sesifikile sokwethulwa “uphawu lukaNkulunkulu ophilayo” kubantu? Ukuphendula, sicaphuna encwadini encane eyashicilelwa nguMfundisi uJoseph Bates ngenyanga kaJanuwari 1849. Lapho ekhuluma ngesigameko esenzeka ngomhlaka 18 Novemba 1848, uthi:—

GSAM 273.2“Iqembu elincane labafowethu nodadewethu lahlangana emhlanganweni eDorchester, eduze kweBoston, eMassachusetts. Ngaphambi kokuba umhlangano uqale, abanye bethu babebheka ezinye zezihloko emyalezweni wokubeka uphawu; kwakukhona umehluko wemibono mayelana nokulunga kombono wegama elithi ‘ukunyukela,’ njll., futhi njengoba sasenze ukushicilelwa komyalezo kwaba yindaba yokuthandaza engqungqutheleni yaseTopsham [eMaine] ngaphambilini, futhi indlela yokushicilela yayingacaci ngokwanele, ngakho-ke sanquma ngokuhlanganyela ukuyinikezela konke kuNkulunkulu. Emva kwesikhathi esithile sichitha umthandazo oqotho wokufuna ukukhanya nemfundiso, uNkulunkulu wanika uDade White okulandelayo embonweni.”

GSAM 273.2Siphinda amazwi njengoba ayekhulunywa nguye ngesikhathi embonweni:—

GSAM 274Amazwi Akhulunywe eMbonweni

GSAM 274.1“Ukukhanya kwaphuma kuphi? Ake ingelosi yakho isifundise ukuthi ukukhanya kwaphuma kuphi. Kwaqala kancane, lapho wawunikeza ukukhanya okukodwa ngemuva kokunye. Ubufakazi nemiyalo zixhumene ndawonye, azihlukaniseki; kuqala kuza imiyalo eyishumi, nguNkulunkulu. Wajabula kakhulu lapho umthetho wakhe waqala ukuvela ngamandla, nezindawo ezilahlekile zaqala ukwakhiwa. Kusuka ebuthakathakeni sekuba namandla ngokuhlola izwi lakhe. Uvivinyo kulo belusikhathi esifushane nje. Uphawu! Luyavuka! Luyavuka, luqala ekuphakameni kwelanga. Njengelanga, ekuqaleni libanda, libe lishisa kancane bese lithumela imisebe yalo. Lapho lelo qiniso livuka, kwakukhona ukukhanya okuncane kuyo, kodwa iyaqhubeka ikhula. Hawu amandla ale misebe! Iyaqhubeka ikhula ngamandla. Isisindo nokukhanya okukhulu kakhulu kukulelo qiniso, ngoba lihlala unomphela, lapho iBhayibheli lingasadingeki. Lavuka lapho empumalanga; laqala ngokukhanya okuncane, kodwa imisebe yalo iyaphilisa. Hawu, linamandla kangakanani lelo qiniso; yilona eliphakeme kunazo zonke ngemva kokungena kwabo ezweni elihle, kodwa lizokwanda kuze kube sebengabantu abangafi. Laqala ekuphakameni kwelanga, liyaqhubeka nomzila walo njengelanga, kodwa alisoze lashona.

GSAM 274.2“Izingelosi zibambe imimoya emine. NguNkulunkulu ovimbela amandla. Izingelosi azikayeki, ngoba abangcwele abakabekwa uphawu bonke. Lapho uMikayeli emi, le nkinga izosabalala emhlabeni wonke. Imimoya isilungele ukuvunguza. Kukhona ukuvinjelwa ngoba abangcwele abakabekwa uphawu. Yebo, shicilela izinto ozibonile nozizwile, bese isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu sizobe sikhona. Bhekani! Lowo mkhuphuko uyanda ngamandla, futhi uyaqhakaza kakhulu nangaphezulu.”⁶

GSAM 274.3Ngemva kokuphuma kulo mbono uNkk. White wathi kumyeni wakhe,

GSAM 274.3“Nginomyalezo wakho. Kufanele uqale ukuphrinta iphepha elincane bese ulithumela kubantu. Livumele libe lincane ekuqaleni; kodwa njengoba abantu befunda bazokuthumelela izinsiza zokuphrinta, futhi kuzoba yimpumelelo kusukela ekuqaleni. Kusukela kulesi siqalo esincane kwavezwa kimi ukuthi kufana nemifula yokukhanya eyayizungeza umhlaba wonke.”

GSAM 275Okungabazekayo Ngokombono Womuntu

GSAM 275.1Lezi zibikezelo zenziwa ngo-1848 mayelana nokuvuka nokusabalala kweqiniso leSabatha. Uma ubheka isimo ngokombono womuntu ngaleso sikhathi, ingqondo yayizothi, “Lesi sibikezelo ngeke sigcwaliseke.” Omunye umuntu waphawula komunye wabasebenzi bethu maduzane nje ngemva kokwenziwa kwalesi sibikezelo, “Kuzothatha iminyaka engu-144,000 ukwenza lokho enikuhlosile.” “Yini!” bebengasho, “abashumayeli abathathu—uMfundisi White nomkakhe, noMfundisi Bates—bonke abangenamali, abanabalandeli abangaphansi kwekhulu, bonke abangenamali, behamba nezinkopi ezingamakhulu ambalwa zencwajana enamakhasi angamashumi ayisishiyagalombili mayelana nombuzo weSabatha, ukuze banikeze umyalezo wokuxwayisa emhlabeni wonke! Yicabango elingenangqondo!” Ngesikhathi labo abacabanga kanjalo bethi, “Akwenzeki!” ukholo emyalezweni nobufakazi bokuphumelela okuqinisekisiwe kwathi, “Egameni likaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli kuzokwenzeka! futhi ngokwethemba emandleni akhe kumele kwenziwe!”

GSAM 275Indlela Iphephandaba Lokuqala Lama-Adventist oSuku Lwesikhombisa Elashicilelwa Ngayo

GSAM 275.2Kusukela ngesikhathi kwaba nobufakazi mayelana nomsebenzi wokushicilela, kwakukhona imithandazo eminingi evela kulabo abagcina usuku lwesikhombisa, ukuthi iNkosi ivule indlela yokuphrinta “iphepha elincane.” Inkinga enkulu kwakuwukushoda kwemali yokuqinisekisa ukushicilelwa kwenombolo yokuqala. Ngonyaka ka-1849, ngoJuni, uMfundisi White wathola ithuba lokugunda ama-acre angamashumi amane otshani be-timothy, ngesikela sesandla, ngentengo yamacenti angama-75 nge-acre ngalinye; ngaleyo ndlela wakwazi ukukhiqiza inombolo yokuqala yephephabhuku elincane. Kungeke kube yiphutha ukufaka lapha isithombe esifanayo sekhasi lokuqala lephepha elincane. Umfundi uzobona ekholomu yokuqala amazwi kaMfundisi White lapho ethi, “Indlela ayikavulwa ukuqala lo msebenzi kuze kube manje.” Futhi ungabona nokuthi kwakuwukuzidela kwakhe “okwavula indlela.”

GSAM 276Incazelo kaNkk. White Ngamaphepha Okokuqala

GSAM 276.1UNkk. White uthi ngokuqala komsebenzi wokushicilela:—

GSAM 276.2“Umyeni wami waqala ukushicilela iphepha elincane eMiddletown, amamayela ayisishiyagalombili ukusuka eRocky Hill, eConnecticut, futhi wayevame ukuhamba lo mzila aye ephinde abuye, nakuba wayengaphilile emilenzeni. Lapho eletha inombolo yokuqala evela ehhovisi lokunyathelisa, sonke saguqa sizungeze yona, sicela iNkosi ngezinhliziyo ezithobile nangeminyembezi eminingi ukuthi imisebenzi ebuthakathaka yomkhonzi wakhe ithole isibusiso sakhe. Wabe esebhalela iphepha kubo bonke ayecabanga ukuthi bazoyifunda, wayiletha ehhovisi leposi esikhwameni sekhaphethi. Inombolo ngayinye yayithathwa isuka eMiddletown iya eRocky Hill, futhi njalo ngaphambi kokuyilungiselela ihhovisi leposi yayibekwa phambi kweNkosi, kwakunokhuleko oluqotho, luhlanganiswe nezinyembezi, olwalunikwa uNkulunkulu ukuze isibusiso sakhe sihambe nezithunywa ezithulile. Maduzane kwafika izincwadi eziletha izimali zokushicilela iphephandaba, kanye nezindaba ezinhle zokuthi imiphefumulo eminingi yamukela iqiniso.”⁷

GSAM 276Isibikezelo Sokusekelwa Kwephephandaba Kwagcwaliseka

GSAM 276.3Sinikeza leli khasi lokuqala lephephandaba lokuqala elashicilelwa ngama-Adventist oSuku Lwesikhombisa ngemizwa ejulile engaphezu kwentshisekelo nje. Lonke ivolumu yeThe Present Truth lalinezinombolo eziyishumi nanye ezinamakhasi ayisishiyagalombili, ngakunye kunamakholomu amabili. Umbhalo wokufunda ekhasini wawulingana no-4 5/8 ngama-intshi ayisishiyagalombili. Inombolo 1 no-4 zaphrintwa ngoJulayi, Agasti, noSepthemba, eMiddletown, Conn. Inombolo 5 kuya ku-9 zaphrintwa e-Oswego, N.Y., futhi zinomhla kuDisemba 1849, Mashi, Ephreli, noMeyi 1850. Inombolo 11 inomhla kuNovemba 1850, futhi yaphrintwa eParis, eMaine. Enombolweni 6 uMfundisi White wathi, “Ngesikhathi kushicilelwa izinombolo zokuqala ezine, kwangena imali engaphezu kwesidingo sokukhokhela amaphephandaba. Le mali isetshenziswe ukukhokhela izindleko zethu emihlanganweni esiyihambele.” Phakathi nonyaka ka-1849, ngaphansi kwethonya lamaphephandaba kanye nomsebenzi wokuqala kaMfundisi Bates, abaningi bamukela umyalezo eVermont, eMichigan nakwezinye izifundazwe.

GSAM 278.1Uma kuqhathaniswa nesimo esingathandeki somsebenzi ngo-1848, sizobheka amaqiniso ambalwa njengoba ekhona ngo-1905, ukuze sikwazi ukwahlulela kangcono ngomphumela wokugcina walo msebenzi, ukuthi ngabe bekulungile yini labo abaphikisana nokuqala okuncane komyalezo, noma uNkulunkulu wasezulwini owakhuluma ngesithunywa sakhe ngamandla “okwanda” omsebenzi “wokubeka uphawu.”

GSAM 278Inqubekela phambili yomsebenzi wokushicilela

GSAM 278.2Leli qiniso manje lisakazwa futhi lishicilelwa cishe ezilimini ezingamashumi amane ezihamba phambili emhlabeni. Esikhundleni sabashumayeli abathathu, sekukhona, uma kubalwa labo abagunyaziwe nabanezimvume, abangaphezu kuka-600, ngaphezu kwamakhulu abanye abasebenza njengodokotela, abasebenzi beBhayibheli, othisha, kanye nabamishinari bezokwelapha. Imibhalo yenhlangano imelelwe ezincwadini eziphindaphindwayo ezingaphezu kwengu-50, eziphrintiwe ezindlini zokushicilela ezicishe zibe ngu-20 eziseYurophu, e-Asia, e-Afrika, eNyakatho naseNingizimu Melika, eziqhingini zasePacific, nase-Australia. Kulezi zindlu zokushicilela kushicilelwa izincwadi ezingaphezu kuka-1,100 ezahlukene, amaphamphlethi namatrakthi. Ukuthola ikhophi ngayinye, kanye namaphephandaba onyaka owodwa, kuzodinga cishe ama-$340. Esikhundleni sabalandeli abayikhulu kuphela, cishe abangaba ngu-100,000 abajabula ngaleli qiniso. Ngempela lo myalezo, njengelanga, “uyavuka,” futhi singasho, ngolimi lobufakazi buka-1848, “Hawu amandla ale misebe!”

GSAM 278Isimo Sezizwe

GSAM 278.3Ngesikhathi umyalezo uqhubeka kanjalo, isimo sezizwe besinjani? Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuze kube manje, emaphephandabeni sivame ukuthola izitatimende mayelana nempi enkulu ezayo eYurophu. Nakuba bekunezingxabano lapha nokuqhuma lapho, “isivunguvungu” esikhulu sibanjwe emuva—“imimoya emine” ayivunyelwe ukuvunguza ngasikhathi sinye, “kuze kube izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zibekwe uphawu.” Ukuthi izakhi zokungezwani nempi zikhona, kodwa aziphumi ngoba zigcinwe zingaphumi, kuyabonakala kubo bonke.

GSAM 279.1UHenry Ward Beecher, kungakapheli sikhathi eside ngaphambi kokushona kwakhe, wabiza ukugcinwa kwamabutho amakhulu kanjalo eYurophu ngokuthi “ukudonsa igazi lokuphila kusengaphambili, ngenxa yokwesaba ukuthi lingachitheka.” Isimo phakathi kwezizwe, ngokuzonda kwazo nokungezwani kwazo, nesimo sazo sokuhlaselana, wakufananisa “nokubambana okuqinile,” okubangelwa iqembu labantu ababhekisana ngamadaga ezifubeni zabanye, kungekho noyedwa onesibindi sokushaya ngenxa yokwesaba ukushaywa. “Kodwa,” kusho yena, “omunye wabo uzobona ngokushesha isikhathi esifanele sokushaya, bese kuqala impi enkulu.”

GSAM 279Ukuqhathanisa Izinsiza Zempi

GSAM 279.2Kusukela ngo-1848 sekwakhiwe izikhali zempi uma kuqhathaniswa nazo, ngisho nezinhle kakhulu zaleso sikhathi manje zingabalwa njengezinto zokudlala nje. I-“Peace Association” yaseMelika, ekubizeni kwayo izinsizakalo zoXolo ngeSonto loXolo,—Disemba 15, 1895,—yathi: “Manje nakuba kunentuthuko ecacile kwezokuhlaliswa komphakathi, ngakolunye uhlangothi kunezilungiselelo zempi ezinkulu phakathi kwamazwe kunanini ngaphambili.”

GSAM 279UJenerali Miles Ngezilungiselelo Zempi

GSAM 279.3UJenerali uNelson A. Miles, ekukhulumeni emhlanganweni omkhulu eWashington, D.C., mhla ziyi-12 kuJanuwari 1904, wathi:—

GSAM 279.4“Kulesi sikhathi esikhanyisiwe senqubekela phambili nesobuhlakani, isiko eliphezulu, besizojabula ukukholwa ukuthi imithwalo nezingozi zempi sezinciphile; kodwa noma kungabonakala kuyinqaba, akukaze kube nesikhathi emlandweni womhlaba lapho ingcebo eningi kangaka yayichithwa ekulungiseleleni impi, noma lapho izigidi eziningi zamadoda aqeqeshiwe, anamakhono, futhi azithobile, abegqoke izikhali ezibhubhisayo kakhulu, zathathwa ezindleleni zomsebenzi onokuthula, njengasamanje.”

GSAM 280.1Kodwa isivunguvungu sempi sisabambezeleka, kanti umsebenzi wokubeka uphawu uyaqhubeka.