Isahluko 1 — Isingeniso

GSAM 21.1LAPHO sikhuluma ngokubuya kwesibili kukaKristu, sithinta udaba olungempela olube ithemba labantu bakaNkulunkulu selokhu kwaxoshwa abazali bethu bokuqala engadini yase-Edene. Emazwini athi enyokeni, ukuthi inzalo yomfazi izophahlaza ikhanda lakhe, kwakuyisiqinisekiso sokuthi ekugcineni kuzofika umvuseleli, ozonqoba ukuthatha kukaSathane ngokungekho emthethweni, futhi aqedele inhloso kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni. Kucatshangwa ukuthi u-Adamu no-Eva bacabanga ukuthi lo msebenzi wawuzokwenzeka masinyane, nokuthi inzalo yabo eyazalwa ngokushesha yayizoba ngumnqobi. Kodwa-ke, ohlelweni lukaNkulunkulu, isithembiso soMsindisi ekubhujisweni okubonakalayo sasibandakanya konke okwenzeke kamuva ekufezeni “inhloso yakhe nenkateko, eyasiphiwa kithi kuKristu uJesu ngaphambi kokuba umhlaba ube khona.”¹

GSAM 21.2Ukube u-Adamu no-Eva babebonile ngokushesha ubuhlungu nenhlupheko eyayizogcwalisa umhlaba phakathi kweminyaka emide phakathi kokubhujiswa kwawo nokubuyiselwa kwawo, usizi lwabo belungeke lube lufanele ukubekezelelwa. UNkulunkulu wasezulwini, ngobubele bakhe obuthambile nomusa wakhe, wabafihlela lesi sibonakaliso, ebashiya benethemba elimnandi lokuthi bazokhululwa masinyane baye enkululekweni ehloniphekile yezingane zikaNkulunkulu. Ukucabanga ukuthi ukukhululwa kwaseduze bekuzobakhuthaza ngokwemvelo ukuba bazimisele kakhulu ekulungiseleleni ukubhekana nalelo thuba.

GSAM 22.1Kwaba kanjalo nakubantu bakaNkulunkulu kuzo zonke izizukulwane kusukela ezinsukwini zika-Adamu. Babeqiniseka ukuthi kwakuzokwenzeka isigameko esikhulu nesibalulekile esikhathini esizayo—ukuthi uKristu ekugcineni wayezofika futhi asungule umbuso wakhe. Nabo, njengo-Adamu no-Eva, bakholelwa ukuthi lesi sigameko sasiseduze, futhi, njengabo, babengazi ukuthi yini eyayizokwenzeka phakathi kwesikhathi sabo nalesi sigameko; ngaphandle kwalokho, babengadikibala ekuzameni ukufinyelela umgomo womklomelo.

GSAM 22.2Lo mbono ungachazwa ngokusebenzisa izenzakalo ezenzeke ngendlela yokutholwa kwezinto ezinkulu. Amadoda aqalise lezi zenzakalo, nakuba bengazi, empeleni babegcwalisa inhloso kaNkulunkulu; kodwa babegqugquzelwa imibono engazange ihambisane ngokuphelele nemfundiso yabo eyayibashukumisela enzeni.

GSAM 22Imiphumela Ebanzi Yokutholwa KukaColumbus

GSAM 22.3UMontgomery, encwadini yakhe ethi American History, inguqulo² yango-1902, ekhasini 8 no-9, ekhuluma ngethiyori eyayihambisa uColumbus ukuqala uhambo lwakhe, nokuphothulwa kohlelo lwakhe lokufinyelela e-Indiya YaseMpumalanga ngokuhamba entshonalanga, uthi:—

GSAM 22.4“UColumbus wayecabanga ukuthi angathuthukisa iphrojekthi yoMbusi wasePortugal. Wayeqiniseka ukuthi kukhona indlela emfushane nephakeme yokufinyelela eNdiya kunaleyo eyayimakiwe nguDiaz. Uhlelo lwetilosi laseGenoa [uColumbus] lwalunesibindi njengoba lwaluyingqayizivele. Esikhundleni sokuhamba ngasempumalanga, noma eningizimu nempumalanga, waphakamisa ukuhamba ngqo entshonalanga. Wayenazo, njengoba ekholelwa, izizathu ezintathu eziqinile nezicacile zokwenza lo msebenzi: Okokuqala, njengabachwepheshe bezemhlaba abahamba phambili ngesikhathi sakhe, uColumbus wayeqinisekile ukuthi umhlaba awuyona indawo evundlile, njengoba abantu abaningi bekucabanga, kodwa uyiglobhu. Okwesibili, wayecabanga ukuthi leli globe lincane kakhulu kunalokho elinjalo, futhi ingxenye enkulu liyizwe esikhundleni samanzi. Okwesithathu, njengoba engazi lutho futhi engacabangi lutho ngokuba khona kwezwekazi laseMelika noma iPacific Ocean, wayecabanga ukuthi ugu lwase-Asia noma lwama-Indies lwalubhekene ngqo neSpain nogwini lwaseNtshonalanga lwaseYurophu. Ibanga lonke eliya eCipango, noma eJapan, wayelilinganisa ukuthi cishe lalingeke lidlule amayili ayizinkulungwane ezine.

GSAM 23.1“Uhlelo lwakhe lwalunjalo: wayezosuka eYurophu; aqondise umkhumbi wakhe entshonalanga eya eJapan, alandele ukugoba komhlaba kuze kumlethele lokho ayekufuna. Engqondweni yakhe kwakubonakala kuqinisekile futhi kulula njengokuthi impukane ingahamba izungeze i-apula.

GSAM 23.2“Uma ephumelela kulolu hambo, wayezoba nale nzuzo enkulu: wayezongena eNdiya ngqo ngomnyango omkhulu, esikhundleni sokufika kuyo ngendlela ejikelezayo nangendlela yokungena eceleni, njengoba kwakudingeka kwenziwe amaPhuthukezi.

GSAM 23.3“Sibona ukuthi lo muntu, owayeqonda izibalo ezisebenzayo, ijografi, nokuhamba ngasolwandle njengalowo nalowo ngesikhathi sakhe, wayelungile ngokuphathelene nendaba yokuqala—isimo somhlaba—kodwa wayephutha ngokuphelele kwezinye ezimbili.

GSAM 23Iphutha Elinenhlanhla

GSAM 23.4“Kodwa-ke, ngokumangazayo, amaphutha akhe ayemsize ngendlela eyodwa. Iphutha ayenzile maqondana nobude bomgama lalinenhlanhla kakhulu. Ukube uColumbus ebale kahle usayizi womhlaba wonke nobude bangempela bohambo olunjalo, kungenzeka wayengeke ahambe ngenxa yokuthi wayezobona ngokushesha ukuthi indlela eyayihloselwe amaPhuthukezi yayifushane kakhulu futhi ishibhile. Futhi, uma wayekwazi ukucabanga noma ngandlela thile wabona kusengaphambili ukuthi izwekazi laseMelika lalimi ngqo endleleni yakhe, lokho, ngokwalo, bekungeke kumkhuthaze ukuthi aqale uhambo lokuthola izwe, ngoba inhloso yakhe kwakungeyona ukuthola izwe elisha, kodwa indlela entsha eya kwesidala.”

GSAM 23Ithemba Elikhulu Lezikhathi Zonke

GSAM 23.5Ngakho-ke abantu bakaNkulunkulu, behamba phakathi kweminyaka, babe nethemba lokufika kukaKristu phambi kwabo “njenge-ankile yomphefumulo, eqinile futhi ethembekile.”³ Yize kaningi besesizungezweni sezihlupho nezinsizi bekhala ngokudabukisayo, “Kuze kube nini, Nkosi, ngaphambi kokuba kufike ukukhululwa?” kodwa baqhubekela phambili, futhi njengaye uPawulu bakhuluma futhi basho, “Ithemba lethu, noma injabulo yethu, noma umqhele wethu wokuzigqaja, yini? Akusini yini nina phambi kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu ekufikeni kwakhe?”⁴

GSAM 24UPawulu Osekelwa Yithemba

GSAM 24.1Izibonelo ezimbalwa zamandla okweseka aleli themba kulesi simo ziyanele. Lapho uPawulu wamangalelwa phambi kukaFelix, wavunyelwa ukuzikhulumela, wathi, “Ngokulandela indlela abayibiza ngokuthi inkolo engalungile, ngiyakhonza uNkulunkulu wabokhokho bami, ngikholelwa kukho konke okubhaliwe emthethweni nakubaprofethi; futhi nginethemba kuNkulunkulu, abavuma nabo ukuthi kuzoba nokuvuka kwabafileyo, kokubili abalungile nabangalungile.”⁵

GSAM 24.2Esicelweni sakhe esinamandla lapho elethwa phambi kuka-Agrippa, uPawulu wathi, “Manje ngimi ngahlulelwa ngenxa yethemba lesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu esenziwe kubokhokho bethu; isithembiso izizwe zethu eziyishumi nambili ezikhonza uNkulunkulu ngokungapheli, ebusuku nasemini, zithemba ukufinyelela kuso. Ngalesi sithembiso, Nkosi Agrippa, ngibekwe icala ngamaJuda. Kungani kufanele kucatshangwe njengento engakholakali kini ukuthi uNkulunkulu angavusa abafileyo?”⁶ Lapho ekugcineni efika eRoma ukuze avele phambi kukaKesare, wathi kumaJuda, “Ngenxa yethemba lika-Israyeli ngiboshwe ngaleli cheni.”⁷

GSAM 24.3UPawulu wakhuluma ngokukhululekile ngalelo themba encwadini yakhe kuTito: “Ngokuba umusa kaNkulunkulu, ophethe insindiso, ubonakale kubo bonke abantu, usifundisa ukuthi, ngokuphika ukungamesabi uNkulunkulu nezifiso zomhlaba, siphile ngokuzithiba, ngokulunga nangobungcwele kuleli zwe lanamuhla, silindele ithemba elibusisiweyo nokuvela okukhazimulayo kukaNkulunkulu omkhulu noMsindisi wethu uJesu Kristu.”⁸

GSAM 24UPetru Ejabula Ethembeni

GSAM 24.4UPetru ukhuluma ngalelo themba ngale ndlela: “Makabusiswe uNkulunkulu noBaba weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, ngokomusa wakhe omningi asizalile kabusha ekuthenjeleni okuphilayo ngenxa yokuvuka kukaJesu Kristu kwabafileyo, sibe nefa elingonakali, elingangcolile, nelingapheli, eligcinwe ezulwini kini, niphethwe ngamandla kaNkulunkulu ngokholo ukuze nifinyelele ekusindisweni okuzovezwa esikhathini sokugcina. Lapho nijabula kakhulu, nakuba okwamanje, uma kudingeka, niphathwa usizi ngezilingo eziningi: ukuze ukuhlolwa kokholo lwenu, okuyigugu kakhulu kunegolide eliyashabalala, nakuba kuhlolwa ngomlilo, kutholakale kube yindumiso nenhlonipho nodumo ekubonakaleni kukaJesu Kristu.”⁹

GSAM 25Inhloso kaNkulunkulu Ekudaleni

GSAM 25.1imiBhalo iveza inhloso kaNkulunkulu ekudaleni umhlaba; futhi ngelizwi leziprofetho sifunda futhi ngohlelo lwakhe mayelana nekusasa: “Uthi iNkosi eyadala izulu, uNkulunkulu uqobo owabumba umhlaba wayenza; wayimisile, akazange adale umhlaba ube yize, wabumba ukuze uhlaliswe.”¹⁰ Lapho esewubumbe, wawunika umuntu. Umbhali weHubo uthi, “Izulu, ngisho nezulu eliphakeme, ziyizakwaJehova; kodwa umhlaba unikwe abantwana babantu.”¹¹ Kodwa lapho ewunika umuntu, umuntu wayelungile, njengoba kuchazwe ngumuntu ohlakaniphile, “Lokhu kuphela engikutholile: ukuthi uNkulunkulu wenze umuntu ulungile; kodwa bona bafuna izinto eziningi zokuqamba.”¹²

GSAM 25.2Sifunda ngokuphatha kweNkosi isintu, ukuthi “lapho ehlukanisa amadodana ka-Adamu, wabeka imingcele yabantu ngokwezinombolo zezingane zika-Israyeli,”¹³ okusho ukuthi ngokwezinombolo ze-Israyeli yangempela ezizoqoqwa ekugcineni emhlabeni njengabantu bombuso wakhe ozayo. Kuchazwe nguPawulu ngala mazwi: “UNkulunkulu ... wenze zonke izizwe zabantu ngogazi olulodwa ukuze zihlale kuwo wonke umhlaba, wabeka izikhathi ezibekiwe ngaphambili nemingcele yokuhlala kwazo; ukuze bafune iNkosi, mhlawumbe bangamuzwa bamthole, nakuba engakude nomunye nomunye wethu; ngoba kuye siphila, sihamba, futhi sibe khona.”¹⁴ Lapho le nhloso yokuqala ephathelene nomhlaba seyifezekisiwe, “nabantu bakho bonke bayoba abalungile.”¹⁵ Futhi kuthiwa ngabo kuleso simo, “Ohlala khona akasoze athi, Ngigula: abantu abahlala kuyo bayaxolelwa ububi babo.”¹⁶ Lelo yisikhathi lapho “abathobekile bazothola ifa lomhlaba; bazojabula ngokugcwele kokuthula.”¹⁷

GSAM 26Ukubuya Kwesibili kukaKristu Akuyona Indaba Eqanjiwe

GSAM 26.1Kushiwo encwadini yesibili kaPetru ukuthi “asilandeli izinganekwane ezicabangelwe ngobuqili lapho sasazisa kini amandla nokufika kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, kodwa sabona ngamehlo ubukhulu bakhe. Ngokuba wamukela kuNkulunkulu uBaba udumo nenkazimulo, lapho kwavela kuye izwi elivela enkazimulweni ephakeme lathi: Lo yindodana yami engiyithandayo, engijabule ngayo. Futhi leli zwi elavela ezulwini salizwa, sasihambisana naye entabeni engcwele. Siphinde sibe nelizwi lesiprofetho eliqiniseke ngokwengeziwe, enenza kahle ngokulinaka njengokukhanya okukhanya endaweni emnyama, kuze kube usuku luvuka, nenkanyezi yasekuseni ivuka ezinhliziyweni zenu.”¹⁸

GSAM 26.2Kulesi sibhalo umphostoli ubhekisela ekuguqulweni kobuso entabeni njengobufakazi bokubuya kwesibili kukaKristu. Ngaphambi kwalesi sigcawu uMsindisi wethu wayesho kubaphostoli bakhe, “Kukhona abanye abemi lapha abangeke baphuze ukufa bengakaboni Indodana yomuntu ifika embusweni wayo”¹⁹ —njengoba kubhalwe nguLuka, “Kukhona abanye abemi lapha abangeke baphuze ukufa bengakaboni umbuso kaNkulunkulu.”²⁰

GSAM 26.3Lesi sithembiso sagcwaliseka ngokoqobo ekuguqulweni kwakhe. Kulo “mbono” entabeni babona uJesu egqamile, njengoba azovela lapho eza embusweni wakhe. Babona u-Elias (u-Eliya), owayethathwa ezulwini engakaze azwe ukufa, emele labo abazoguqulwa—besuswa esimweni sokufa bafike ekungafini—“ngomzuzwana, ngokuphaphazela kwamehlo,” lapho iNkosi ifika.²¹ Kwakukhona futhi uMose, owashona, omele labo abazovuswa kwabafileyo ukuze bahlangane neNkosi. Ngakho kulo “mbono” babona uKristu eza embusweni wakhe, njengoba ayebethembise.

GSAM 27Isiprofetho: Ilizwi Elithembekile Kakhulu

GSAM 27.1Nakuba abaphostoli bebebone lesi sibonakaliso esikhazimulayo entabeni yokuguqulwa, futhi bezwa izwi lokuvunywa kukaNkulunkulu, umphostoli uPetru uqinisekisa: “Sinamazwi ephrofetho aqinile kakhulu.” Ngalesi sitatimende akanciphisi lokho abakubonile nabakuzwile ngaleso sikhathi esingasoze salibaleka. Ngaleso sikhathi bezwa izwi likaNkulunkulu kanye, kodwa emigqeni emikhulu yephrofetho, eya kuza kwesibili kukaKristu, sinamazwi kaNkulunkulu aphindwa kaningi. Eqinisweni, zonke izibikezelo ezicacile zokuprofetha ezifezekisiwe noma ezirekhodiwe emlandweni ziyizwi likaNkulunkulu kithi. Kufanele kube ngale ndlela ukuthi izwi lokuprofetha lithi “liqinisekile kakhulu.” I-Revised Version ihumusha ngokuthi, “lenziwe laqiniseka.” Ukuprofetha kwenziwa kuqiniseka yilowo nalowo mcaciso owenziwe. Yonke imicimbi ebikezelwe, lapho isifezekile, iyisiqiniseko sokuthi neminye imicimbi ebikezelwe izofezeka ngempela.

GSAM 27Ubunjalo Besiprofetho

GSAM 27.2Izitatimende ezilandelayo ezivela kososayensi beBhayibheli abahloniphekile ngemvelo yokubikezela zinamandla:—

GSAM 27.3UThomas Newton uthi “isiprofetho yindaba esizayo ebikezelwe futhi efingqiwe; umlando yisiprofetho esifezekile futhi esandisiwe. Kube nezinkulumo zobuxoki emhlabeni; kodwa bonke ubuhlakani nobubi babantu nezidimoni abukwazi ukukhiqiza iziprofetho ezifana nalezo ezirekhodiwe eMibhalweni Engcwele.”

GSAM 27.4USir Isaac Newton ufakaza ukuthi “ukulalela abaprofethi kuyisici esiyisisekelo sebandla langempela.”

GSAM 27.5UDkt. A. Keith uthi “isiprofetho siyafana nanoma yisiphi isimangaliso, futhi siyisimangaliso ngokwaso.... Izwi likaSomandla kuphela elingabiza abafileyo emathuneni,—izwi loLwazi Oluphelele kuphela elingatshela konke okufihlwe esikhathini esizayo esimnyama, esingafinyeleleki kumuntu njengokuhlala kwabafileyo,—futhi womabili ayizwi likaNkulunkulu ngokufanayo.”

GSAM 28.1UMatthew Henry wathi “ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu, esiyisikhathi esingcono kakhulu, nangendlela kaNkulunkulu, eyindlela engcono kakhulu, isiprofetho sizogcwaliseka ngokuqinisekile. Wonke amazwi kaKristu ahlanzekile kakhulu, ngakho-ke aqinisekile kakhulu.”

GSAM 28Injongo Yokubikezela

GSAM 28.2Singafunda emazwini kaKristu kubaphostoli bakhe ngenhloso eyodwa yeNkosi ekunikezeni isiprofetho. Ekhuluma ngokweprofetho ngezinto ezazizokwenzeka empilweni kaJuda, wathi, “Ngiyanitshela ngaphambi kokuba kwenzeke, ukuze, lapho sekwenzekile, nikholwe ukuthi ngiyena.”²²

GSAM 28.3INkosi iphinde ithi ngomprofethi Isaya, “NginguNkulunkulu, futhi akekho onjengami, ngimemezela ukuphela kusukela ekuqaleni, futhi kusukela ezikhathini zasendulo izinto ezingakenzeki, ngithi, icebo lami liyoma, futhi ngizokwenza konke engikufunayo.”²³

GSAM 28.4Futhi, “Ngimemezele izinto zangaphambilini kusukela ekuqaleni, zaphuma emlonyeni wami, ngaziveza; ngazenza ngokungazelelwe, zafezeka.... Ngisho kusukela ekuqaleni ngakumemezela; ngaphambi kokuba kwenzeke ngakubonisa; ukuze ungathi, Izithombe zami zokukhulekela zenze lezi zinto, nomfanekiso wami oqoshiwe nomfanekiso wami oshibilikayo ziyalele zona. Uyizwile, bheka konke lokhu; futhi anizokwazisa yini? Ngikubonisile izinto ezintsha kusukela manje, ngisho nezinto ezifihlakele, ongakazazi. Zidalwe manje, hhayi kusukela ekuqaleni; ngisho nangaphambi kosuku lapho wawungakazizwa, ukuze ungathi, Bheka, ngangizazi.”²⁴

GSAM 28.5Kusukela kulolimi kubonakala amandla okugcwaliseka kweziprofetho njengobufakazi bokuthi isiprofetho sivela kuNkulunkulu, kanye nokuba kuwukubonisa amandla eNkosi ngaphezu kwazo zonke izithixo zabantu abangakholelwa kuNkulunkulu. Kuphinde kwabonakala kulezi zisho ukuthi isiprofetho sithatha indawo ebaluleke kakhulu eMibhalweni yangempela. Njengoba lezi zinto ziyiqiniso, kuyamangaza ukuthi abantu abaningi banikeza ukunakwa okuncane noma abanakekeli nhlobo ukufunda izingxenye zeziprofetho eMibhalweni engcwele.

GSAM 29Isiprofetho Asivaliwe Ngophawu

GSAM 29.1Abangazi bathi abafundanga, ngakho-ke abakwazi ukuqonda iziprofetho. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, abaningi abafundile, nabanye babo phakathi kwabashumayeli, bathi: “Iziprofetho zivaliwe, futhi azinakuqondwa. Sonke siyazi ukuthi incwadi yeSambulo iyincwadi evaliwe.”

GSAM 29.2Encwadini yeSambulo, uJohane othandekayo wanikezwa umyalo okhethekile wokungavaleli incwadi.²⁵ Futhi kule ncwadi kukhona isibusiso esibekwe kulabo “abazwa amazwi alo mbhalo wokubikezela, bagcine izinto ezibhaliwe kuwo.”²⁶ Kungaba kanjani ukuthi izinto eziqukethwe yincwadi evaliwe zigcinwe uma zingazange futhi zingeke ziqondwe? INkosi yathi ngoMose, “Izinto eziyimfihlo ziyizinto zeNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu; kodwa izinto eziveziwe ziyizinto zethu nezabantwana bethu unomphela, ukuze senze zonke izinto ezisemthethweni.”²⁷

GSAM 29.3Kuyabonakala ukuthi iNkosi yahlela iziprofetho zikaDaniyeli ukuze ziqondwe, ngamazwi ayo ayewatshela abafundi bakhe ngazo. Sifunda: “Ngakho-ke nina lapho nibona inkohlakalo yokubhujiswa, okukhulunywe ngayo nguDaniyeli umprofethi, imi endaweni engcwele (lowo ofundayo, makakuqonde),”²⁸ okusho cishe, Qonda uDaniyeli umprofethi.

GSAM 29.4INkosi iveza ubufakazi bokungamanga kwesimangalo sokuthi iziprofetho azinakuqondwa, ngala mazwi: “Umbono wayo yonke into ube kini njengamagama encwadi ebekwe uphawu, abantu abayinika umuntu ofundile, besho bathi, Funda lokhu, ngiyacela: wathi, Angikwazi, ngoba ibekwe uphawu: incwadi iyaphoswa kuye ongafundile, kuthiwa, Funda lokhu, ngiyacela: wathi, Angifundanga. Ngakho-ke iNkosi yathi, Ngokuba leli sizwe lisondela kimi ngomlomo walo, nangolimi lwalo lungihlonipha, kodwa lisuse inhliziyo yalo kude nami, nokwesaba kwalo kimi kufundiswe ngemithetho yabantu; ngakho-ke, bheka, ngizokwenza umsebenzi omangalisayo phakathi kwalesi sizwe, umsebenzi omangalisayo nomangaliso; ngokuba ukuhlakanipha kwabahlakaniphile babo kuzobhujiswa, nokuqonda kwabantu babo abaqondayo kuzofihlwa.”²⁹ Uma abantu abakhulunywa ngabo umprofethi lapha bebelandela izwi eliqinile lesiprofetho, bebengadingi ukuphambuka emthethweni kaNkulunkulu, bafake esikhundleni samayalo akhe imiyalo yabantu.

GSAM 30Ukuphrofetha Akusikho Sokuhumusha Komuntu Ngamunye

GSAM 30.1Akukhona ukuthi ubikezelo lunezincazelo ezijulile, ezifihlakele, eziyimfihlakalo okwenza abaningi bangakuqondi. Umphostoli uPetru wathi ngakho, “Lazi lokhu kuqala, ukuthi akukho siprofetho eBhalweni esingokuchazwa komuntu ngamunye. Ngokuba isiprofetho asizange sivele ezikhathini zasendulo ngokuthanda komuntu; kodwa abantu abangcwele bakaNkulunkulu bakhuluma njengoba beholwa nguMoya oNgcwele.”³⁰ Kusobala kulokhu ukuthi ukuze siqonde isiprofetho, kumele samukele lowo Moya okhuluma ngabaprofethi. Ngomoya lowo, othembiswe bonke abawufunayo, kubhalwe, “Uzakuhola kuwo wonke iqiniso.”³¹

GSAM 30Umbikezelo Ugcwalisekile

GSAM 30.2Ekutadisheni iziprofetho kunezinto ezithile okufanele zihlale zikhunjulwa: uNkulunkulu, ongakwazi ukuphutha, ungumbhali weziprofetho, futhi lapho kufika isikhathi sokugcwaliseka kokubikezela, isenzakalo esibikezelwe siyenzeka ngempela. Futhi, njengoba iNkosi, enamandla okubona kusengaphambili ukuthi abantu bazokwenzani, ichaza isikhathi lapho into izokwenzeka, lapho leso sikhathi sifika, ukugcwaliseka kweqiniso kwesiprofetho kuyafezeka. Ngamanye amazwi, ukugcwaliseka okungamanga kwesiprofetho ngesikhathi esinqunyelwe kwesiprofetho sangempela akunakwenzeka. Ngokuhambisana nalesi simiso, singasho ukuthi lapho kufika isikhathi seNkosi sokuthi umyalezo wayo weqiniso unikezwe umhlaba, lo myalezo uvela njalo.

GSAM 30.3Ngesinye isikhathi, lapho umbhali enikeza inkulumo ngokugcwaliseka kweziprofetho, umuntu ongakholwayo owayekhona waphakama wathi, “Kufanele nginihalalisele nina abahlaziyi beziprofetho ngokuba nenhlanhla enkulu. Ekutadisheni kwenu umlando, nibonakala nithola kalula lokho okuhambelana ngqo neziprofetho.” “Yebo,” saphendula, “kuyahambisana ngoba kwakwenziwe ukuze kuhambisane. Uma uya esitolo samaglavu ukuyothenga amaglavu, awulindeli yini ukuthola lawa ahambelana nesandla sakho?” Waphendula wathi, “Impela ngizokwenza njalo, ngoba enziwe ukuze ahambisane.” “Ngakho-ke,” kusho umbhali, “uNkulunkulu owayazi kahle ukuthi abantu bazokwenzani, wenza izibikezelo ngabo, futhi lapho labo bantu beqala ukwenza izenzo zabo, benza ngempela izinto ayezibikezele, umlobi womlando oqotho ubhala phansi izenzo zabo, ezifana ngqo nezibikezelo uma kuqhathaniswa.”

GSAM 31Isiprofetho Ukukhanya Ebumnyameni

GSAM 31.1Umphostoli uPetru uthi kumele sinake iziprofetho njengokukhanya okuqhakazayo endaweni emnyama. Ngaphandle kwelambu leziprofetho ikusasa bekungaba ubumnyama obuphelele. Inhloso yokukhanya ukuqeda ubumnyama—lapho uhamba endaweni emnyama, ukukhombisa indlela, nokuyiveza ngokusobala, ukuze umhambi akwazi, isinyathelo ngesinyathelo, ukubona nokukhetha indlela. “Izwi lakho,” kusho umbhali weHubo, “liyilambu ezinyaweni zami, nokukhanya endleleni yami.”³² Indoda ehlakaniphile ithi, “Indlela yabalungileyo ifana nokukhanya okukhazimulayo, okukhanya kakhulu kuya kosuku oluphelele.”³³ Ngakho-ke kubonakala, njengoba sihamba ngokulandela umfula wesikhathi, ukuthi izwi likaNkulunkulu, ikakhulukazi ekugcwalisweni kweziprofetho zalo, lizovuleka kakhulu nangaphezulu, kwenze kucace kakhulu kumfundi weBhayibheli ukuthi ngempela usezindleleni eziqondisa ekukhanyeni okuphakade nasosukwini olungapheli.

GSAM 31Iziganeko Ezintathu Ezivelele Kusukela e-Edeni Kuze Kube Sekupheleni

GSAM 31.2Uma sicabangela indlela yabantu bakaJehova kusukela e-Edeni kuze kube sekupheleni, ngokukhanya kwemiBhalo, kunezehlakalo ezintathu ezivelele ngokukhethekile. Okokuqala kuwukufika kokuqala kukaKristu, ukuzalwa kwakhe enyameni, ukufika kuka-Emmanuel, uNkulunkulu owabonakala enyameni; eyesibili, ukuvuselelwa okukhulu ngemva kweZikhathi eziMnyama—iminyaka engu-1260 yokucindezelwa, lapho izwi leNkosi lalivinjwe cishe ngokuphelele kubantu abavamile—ukufika kwebandla lisuka esimweni salo sasendle, nokubekwa kwemiBhalo lapho wonke umuntu angayifunda futhi azi intando yakhe; okwesithathu, ukufika kwesibili kweNkosi yethu ukuze kulethe izikhathi zokubuyiselwa kwazo zonke izinto ezikhulunywe ngomlomo wabo bonke abaprofethi bakhe abangcwele kusukela ekuqaleni komhlaba; lokhu, ukuvala “ukungqubuzana kwezikhathi,” ukungqubuzana phakathi kwesono nokulunga, ukuze kulethe inkathi yodumo, lapho zonke izikhathi bezihamba ngenhloso yakhona.

GSAM 32Umbikezelo Unikeza Izimpawu Zokufika Kokuphela

GSAM 32.1Uma sinaka izwi eliqinile leziprofetho njengokukhanya okumele kuqondise izinyathelo zethu, okusiveza indlela efanele phakathi kobumnyama, akunakwenzeka ukuthi singatholi indlela ebhalwe ngokusobala ezwini leziprofetho kuze kube sekufikeni kwesibili kukaKristu. Lokhu kuyenzeka, labo abalandela ngokucophelela ukukhanya kwesiprofetho ngeke bazi kuphela izimpawu nezinkomba zokuthi usuku olukhulu lusondele, kodwa futhi bazobona umsebenzi weNkosi njengoba uqhubeka ngokungaguquki emiyalezweni yeqiniso ehloselwe ukulungiselela abantu ukuba bamhlangabeze ngokuthula ekufikeni kwakhe.

GSAM 32.2Nakuba imiBhalo ithi usuku lweNkosi luzofika kubantu abaningi “njengesela ebusuku”,³⁴ ithi futhi ngalabo abemi emkhandlwini weNkosi, “Nina, bafowethu, anikho ebumnyameni, ukuze usuku olunjalo lunganibamba njengesela. Nina nonke ningabantwana bokukhanya, nabantwana besuku.”³⁵

GSAM 32Khumbula Ukuhola KweNkosi

GSAM 32.3Ekukhumbuleni ukuhola kweNkosi emkhankasweni wokufika, kuhle ukuqaphela ukuthi kube ngaso sonke isikhathi inhloso kaNkulunkulu ukuthi abantu bakhe bakhumbule izibonakaliso zokunakekelwa kwakhe namandla akhe ngabo. Lapho echaza izizathu zokuphambuka kuka-Israyeli kuNkulunkulu, umbhali weHubo uthi, “Bakhohlwa uNkulunkulu umsindisi wabo, owenze izimangaliso ezinkulu eGibhithe, imisebenzi emangalisayo ezweni laseHam, nezimangaliso ezesabekayo eduze kweLwandle Elibomvu.”³⁶ Uma bekulungile ku-Israyeli ukukhumbula ukuhola kweNkosi kubo, akulungile yini nakithi? Ngokujabula okukhulu umbhali weHubo uphinde wathi, “Busisa iNkosi, wena mphefumulo wami, ungakhohlwa zonke izibusiso zakhe.”³⁷

GSAM 33.1Kuzo zonke izizukulwane iNkosi ibe neqiniso elibalulekile, elihlelwe ngomusa wayo, ukuze ikhuphe abantu ebukhobokeni besono, ibabeke ukuze bangene eKhanani yezulu; futhi kuyasiza ukucabangela indlela iNkosi eyayiphatha ngayo labo abamemezele lawa maqiniso.

GSAM 33Imiphumela Eminzulu Ngemithombo Emincane—Ubufakazi bukaD'Aubigné

GSAM 33.2UD'Aubigné, encwadini yakhe ethi History of the Reformation, uthi, “UNkulunkulu, olungiselela umsebenzi wakhe kuzo zonke izinkathi, uyawufeza ngezinsiza ezibuthakathaka kakhulu, lapho isikhathi sakhe sesifikile. Ukuze kuzuzwe imiphumela emikhulu ngezindlela ezincane kakhulu, yilona mthetho kaNkulunkulu. Lo mthetho, obonakala yonke indawo emvelweni, utholakala futhi emlandweni.”³⁸

GSAM 33.3Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu, esikhathini esidala, eqala ukukhetha abantu abakhethekile ukuze abenze isizwe esikhethekile sakhe, kwaba ngokubiza indoda eyodwa—u-Abrahama—owahlala phakathi kwabantu abangakholelwa kuNkulunkulu, e-Ur yamaKhaledi. Kuye kwavela inzalo eningi; kodwa kubo, lapho sebephakanyisiwe esikhundleni sobuzwe, uNkulunkulu wasezulwini wathi: “uJehova akazange anithande noma anikhethe ngenxa yokuba ninobuningi kunabo bonke abantu; ngoba nina nancane kunabo bonke abantu.”³⁹

GSAM 33.4Futhi-ke, lapho ayefuna ukukhulula abantu bakhe ebukhobokeni baseGibhithe, wakhetha njengomholi wabo lowo owathi ebuncaneni bakhe wafihlwa izinyanga ezintathu endlini kamama wakhe, kwathi kamuva wafakwa esikebheni esilula esenziwe ngotshani wamanzi futhi sagcotshwa ngetiyela, wasethulwa ukuba asindiswe uMfula iNayili. Lo uMose uqobo, noma kunjalo, wayengumuntu othi, lapho esekhulile ngokwanele, wakhetha indlela ethobekile yokuhlupheka nabantu bakaNkulunkulu kunokuthokozela okutholakala “ezijabulisweni zecala isikhashana.”⁴⁰

GSAM 34Ukunqoba kukaGidiyoni

GSAM 34.1Emva kwalokho, lapho iNkosi yayizokhulula u-Israyeli kumaMidiyani nakuma-Amaleki, ababefikile ezweni labo “njengezinkalankala ngobuningi,” bachitha isivuno somhlaba, bashiya “kungekho ukudla kuka-Israyeli, noma izimvu, noma izinkomo, noma amahhashi,” iNkosi yathumela ingelosi kuGidiyoni. Le ndodana kaYoashi yaphoqeleka ukuba ibhule ukolweni omncane futhi iwufihlele izitha zayo. Lapho ingelosi imtshela ukuthi uzokhulula i-Israyeli, uGidiyoni ngokumangala wabuza, “Ngizokhulula i-Israyeli kanjani? Bheka, umndeni wami umpofu eManase, futhi mina ngingowesiphansi endlini kababa.”⁴¹ Lo muntu ofanayo othobekile, ompofu, waphuma nabantu bakhe abangamakhulu amathathu, ngezibani zabo ezilula namabhodlela abo (isenzo esingabonakala njengobuwula ngokwahlulela kwethu okulinganiselwe), futhi benze uNkulunkulu amandla abo, bathola ukunqoba okukhulu. Ngaphambi kokusindiswa, uGidiyoni wayengase alile njengomprofethi uAmose lapho ebuzayo, “Ngubani ozovusa uJakobe? ngoba mncane.”⁴²

GSAM 34Umntwana Emkhombeni

GSAM 34.2Ngesikhathi uJehova asibekele sona, uMsindisi wabantu wazalwa, futhi abalusi bamthola elele emkhombeni. Izihlobo zakhe zomhlaba zazilandela imisebenzi ethobekile yempilo, yize eyayihloniphekile. Ngokuphathelene nobumpofu bakhe bomhlaba, uMsindisi wathi, “Izimpungushe zinezimbobo, nezinyoni zasezulwini zinezidleke; kodwa iNdodana yomuntu ayinalo lapho ingabeka khona ikhanda layo.”⁴³ Wakhetha abaphostoli bakhe “phakathi kwalelo zinga eliphansi, nakuba lingelona eliphansi kunawo wonke, elingafinyeleli ezingeni lemiphakathi ephakathi. Konke lokhu kwakuhloselwe ukubonisa umhlaba ukuthi lo msebenzi awuyona into yomuntu, kodwa ingeyakwaNkulunkulu.”

GSAM 35Abambalwa Abahlakaniphile Ababizwayo

GSAM 35.1UPawulu wathi ngomsebenzi ezinsukwini zebandla lasendulo: “Ubuphukuphuku bukaNkulunkulu buhlakaniphile kunabantu; nobuthakathaka bukaNkulunkulu buqinile kunabantu. Ngokuba nibone ukubizwa kwenu, bafowethu, ukuthi abaningi abahlakaniphile ngokwenyama, abaningi abanamandla, abaningi abazizwayo ababizwanga; kodwa uNkulunkulu ukhethe izinto eziphukuphuku zomhlaba ukuze ahlaze abahlakaniphile; futhi uNkulunkulu ukhethe izinto ezibuthakathaka zomhlaba ukuze ahlasele izinto ezinamandla; nezinto eziphansi zomhlaba, nezinto ezidukiswayo, uNkulunkulu ukhethe zona, yebo, nezinto ezingekho, ukuze enze zingabi lutho izinto ezikhona; ukuze kungabi nanyama ezingazigqaja phambi kwakhe.”⁴⁴

GSAM 35Amadoda Athobekile ekuvuseleleni

GSAM 35.2Sithola lo mthetho ofanayo ubonakala ezimpilweni zabavuseleli abakhulu bekhulu le-16. Umlando uthi: “Umvuseleli uZwingle wavela endlini encane yomelusi wase-Alps; uMelanchthon, isazi sezinkolo sokuvuselelwa, wavela esitolo somakhenikha wezikhali; noLuther wavela endlini encane yomvukuzi ompofu.” Mayelana naye uqobo, uLuther wathi: “Abazali bami babengabampofu kakhulu. Ubaba wami wayengumgawuli wezinkuni ompofu ( kamuva waba ngumvukuzi), kanti umama wami wayevame ukuthwala izinkuni emhlane wakhe ukuze athole izindlela zokukhulisa izingane zakhe. Babekhuthazelela umsebenzi onzima kakhulu ngenxa yethu.”

GSAM 35.3Umphostoli uJakobe, ekhuluma ngokubizwa kwabantu enkonzweni yeNkosi, uthi, “Lalelani, bafowethu engibathandayo, ingabe uNkulunkulu akakhethanga abampofu baleli zwe, abacebile ekukholweni, futhi abazoba izindlalifa zombuso awuthembisile kulabo abamthandayo?”⁴⁵

GSAM 35AmaMethodist okuqala

GSAM 35.4Uma sibheka umugqa wabavuseleli owayeqhubeka phambili ezinsukwini zokuqala zeMethodism, lapho imfundiso yomusa wamahhala yayimemezelwa ngokuzikhandla, sithola ukuthi yayihambisana namandla kaNkulunkulu. Njengoba yayivezwa ngokwethembeka kubantu, ngothando oluthambile lukaKristu, futhi yamukelwa ngokholo oluphilayo, abakholwayo abazange bathole ukuxolelwa kwezono zabo zangaphambilini kuphela, kodwa namandla angcwalisayo abenza bakwazi ukuphila impilo engcwele. I-Methodism yaqala ngokuzithoba, futhi yabusiswa ngokwezinkolelo nokwethemba okulula kwabashumayeli nabantu abavamile.

GSAM 36.1Uma silandela izigameko nezipiliyoni ezihambisana nomkhankaso wokufika, sithola ukuthi, njengakuyo yonke imisebenzi yeNkosi lapho umuntu eyingxenye yokuyifeza, ukuqala kwayo kwakungaphakathi kwabampofu nabangaziwayo; kodwa makangabi khona onquma ngokumelene nayo ngenxa yalesi sizathu ngaphambi kokuhlola ngokucophelela ubufakazi okuyisisekelo salo msebenzi omkhulu, hleze atholakale esesimweni salabo iNkosi eyabuza kubo, “Ubani ohlazise usuku lwezinto ezincane?”⁴⁶

GSAM 36Impendulo ka-Eck kuLuther

GSAM 36.2Ukuze kube usizo kulabo abangase bathande ukunquma ukuthi ingqikithi yenkolo ilungile noma ayilungile ngokuya ngokuthi abambalwa noma abaningi bayamukela yini, sicaphuna ingxabano phakathi kukaLuther no-Eck, ingxenye yayo. Njengoba uLuther ethatha isikhundla sakhe eMibhalweni eNgcwele, futhi wazibeka ekuphikeni ilungelo labantu lokubeka imibono yabo ngaphezulu kwegama likaNkulunkulu, u-Eck waphendula ngala mazwi ahlekisayo: “Ngiyamangala ngokuzithoba nokuthobeka okukhulu ngakho uDokotela ohloniphekile aqala ukuphikisa yedwa obaba abaningi abahloniphekile, futhi ezifaka sengathi uyazi ngaphezu kwabapontifiki abaphezulu, amakhonsili, odokotela, neyunivesithi! ... Bekungaba yisimanga, ngempela, uma uNkulunkulu efihle iqiniso kwabangcwele abaningi nabafakazi bokholo kuze kufike uMpristi ohloniphekile.”

GSAM 36.3Le mpendulo ingase iphendulwe kahle ngempendulo kaZwingle kuJohn Faber, eZurich, lapho lo wakamuva ekhombisa “ukumangala kwakhe ngesimo izinto ezazifike kuso, lapho imikhuba yasendulo eyayihlale iminyaka eyinkulungwane namakhulu amabili yayishiywe, kwaphothulwa ngokusobala ukuthi ubuKristu babuphazama iminyaka eyinkulungwane namakhulu amane.” UZwingle waphendula ngokushesha wathi “iphutha alinciphi ngoba bekukholelwa kulo iminyaka eyinkulungwane namakhulu amane, nokuthi ekukhonzweni kukaNkulunkulu, ubudala besiko abuyona into ngaphandle kokuthi isizathu noma ubufakazi bokusekela singatholakala eMibhalweni Engcwele.”⁴⁷

GSAM 37Izwi LeNkosi Ngokumelene Nokuhlakanipha Kwabantu

GSAM 37.1Ingozi yokuthembela ezimvo zabantu, esikhundleni sokuxazulula umbuzo othi, “Iqiniso liyini?” ngelizwi leNkosi, ichazwe ngokusobala umprofethi uHozeya lapho ethi, “Nilime ububi, nasevuna icala; nidle izithelo zamanga; ngoba wathemba endleleni yakho, ebuningini babantu bakho abanamandla.”⁴⁸ Isimo senhliziyo yomuntu sihlale sikholelwa ebantwini; kodwa njengoba sisondela esikhathini lapho iNkosi “izovuka futhi izoshukumisa umhlaba ngokwesabekayo”, umprofethi Isaya ukhuthaza, “Yekani ukuthembela kumuntu, umoya wakhe usemakhaleni akhe; ngoba ubaluleke ngani?”⁴⁹

GSAM 37.2Njengoba-ke sixwayisiwe eMibhalweni eNgcwele mayelana nengozi yethu kule ndlela, makangashayi umuntu ngokushesha isigwebo ngomkhankaso wokufika kukaKristu, sengathi awufanele ukucatshangelwa ngenxa yokuqala kwawo okuncane, noma ngoba labo ababizwa ngokuthi abakhulu emehlweni omhlaba bengawusekeli lo mkhankaso. Kunalokho, bonke mabahlolisise ngokucophelela izimangalo zawo. Iqiniso linokubaluleka okungenakulinganiswa; imibono nje yabantu, uma iqhathaniswa nalo, iyinkunkuma engenamsebenzi.