Isahluko 2 — Uhlelo Lokusindiswa Olwembulwayo

GSAM 38.1“Ithemba elibambezelwe lenza inhliziyo igule; kodwa lapho isifiso sifika, siyisihlahla sokuphila.”¹ “Ngokuba kanje kusho iNkosi yamabutho: Kusalele kancane, futhi ngizoshukumisa izulu nomhlaba, nolwandle nomhlaba omile; futhi ngizoshukumisa zonke izizwe, nofiswayo yizizwe zonke uzofika; futhi ngizogcwalisa le ndlu ngenkazimulo, kusho iNkosi yamabutho.”²

GSAM 38.2Kusukela ngesikhathi u-Adamu axoshwa engadini yase-Edene nasemthini wokuphila, amazwi akhuluma kuSathane mayelana nembewu yowesifazane—“izophahlaza ikhanda lakho”—anikeze ithemba lokunqotshwa kokugcina kukaSathane, ukuwa kwezinhlelo zakhe zobuqili, nokubuyiselwa emthini wokuphila. Lo Olindelwe—iMbewu ethembisiwe—ngaleyo ndlela waba “Isifiso sazo zonke izizwe.”

GSAM 38.3Esicaphunweni esingenhla esivela kuHaggai kubonakala ukuthi ukuza kwalowo Ofunwayo kuhambisana nesikhathi lapho iNkosi izoshukumisa izulu nomhlaba. UPawulu, ebhala kwabaseHeberu, wabeka lokho ukuzamazama esikhathini esizayo, ethi, “Kodwa futhi ngizoshukumisa hhayi umhlaba kuphela, kodwa nasezulwini. Futhi leli gama elithi, Nokho futhi, lisho ukususa izinto ezizanyazwayo, njengezinto ezenziwe, ukuze kuhlale izinto ezingazanyazwayo. Ngakho-ke, njengoba sithola umbuso ongasazanyazwayo, masibe nomusa, ngalowo musa sikhonze uNkulunkulu ngokwamukelekayo nangokuhlonipha nangokwesaba uNkulunkulu.”³ Lolu limi olukhuluma ngokuzamazama okukodwa okusazayo kubonakala luhlanganisa ngokusondeleyo nokusungulwa kokugcina kombuso kaNkulunkulu ngaphansi kukaKristu, iMbewu ethembisiwe, “Isifiso sazo zonke izizwe.”

GSAM 39.1Ukubuyiselwa okuzokwenziwa ngoKristu kungabonakala ngokusobala kulezi zinsuku zokugcina kubo bonke abaneBhayibheli lonke livulekile phambi kwabo. Kwabe kungenjalo kwabantu bamandulo. Izwi leNkosi lafika kubo, “umthetho phezu komthetho, umthetho phezu komthetho; umugqa phezu komugqa, umugqa phezu komugqa; lapha kancane, lapho kancane.”⁴ Ngakho-ke ekudalulweni kwabo kohlelo lokusindiswa, kwakufana nomzila wabalungileyo, “njengokukhanya okuqhakazayo, okukhanya kakhulu kakhulu kuze kube usuku oluphelele.”⁵ Ngakho-ke kuba yinto ethakazelisayo kakhulu ukulandela kafushane ukuvulwa kancane kancane kwalolo hlelo kubantu bakhe basendulo.

GSAM 39Ukubambezeleka Akuzange Kuvezwe Ekuqaleni

GSAM 39.2INkosi ayizange ilihlehlise ithemba labo ngokushesha, yenza izinhliziyo zabo zibe nesifo ngokubavulela ukuthi kuzothatha amakhulu eminyaka ngaphambi kokuba bafinyelele ekugcwalisekeni kwethemba labo kuMbewu ethembisiwe. Ngokwemibhalo ebhalwe phansi, siphetha ukuthi bavunyelwe ukucabanga ukuthi ingane yokuqala ezalwa yayizoba yile Mbewu; nokuthi kungekudala, ngendlela ethile, i-Eden izobuyiselwa, futhi bazophinde babe nokufinyelela esihlahleni sokuphila. Lapho uKaini ezalwa, u-Eva wamemeza wathi, “Ngithole indoda eNkosini.”⁶ Ezinye izazi zesiHebheru zifakazela ukuthi uma iguqulelwa ngokweqiniso nangokuphelele, umbhalo uthi, “Ngithole indoda, iNkosi.” Okusho ukuthi, Nansi Imbewu ezokwenza lo msebenzi wenkosi wokunqoba uSathane. Akukho ukurekhodwa kokusho okunjalo okwenzeka lapho u-Abeli ezalwa. Wayengacabanga, futhi ngokwemvelo wayezocabanga, ukuthi umntwana wokuqala wayeyena ozogcwalisa lesi sithembiso. Kanjani ithemba lakhe lehle, kwaze kwafa, njengoba isimilo sikaKaini sathuthuka, wambona ehamba endleleni embi eyaholela ekubulaweni komfowabo. Ngaphambi kokuba u-Abeli abulwe, kumele babe bethole ukukhanya nolwazi mayelana nesihlatshelo esizayo esasizokwenziwa egameni labo; ngoba u-Abeli, njengoba ayeyaliwe nguNkulunkulu, waletha iwundlu lakhe njengesihlatshelo, kanti uKaini, owafundiswa okufanayo nomfowabo, waletha isihlatshelo seziqhamo zomhlaba, futhi lokhu kwakuhlanganisa nomoya wentukuthelo nomona. Isipho sika-Abeli sasemukelekile kakhulu kunesikaKaini, ngoba senziwe “ngokholo,” futhi ngakho uPawulu ubhala, “Yena eshonile, usakhuluma.”⁷

GSAM 40Ingabe uSethi uyimbewu?

GSAM 40.1Emva kokufa kuka-Abeli, wazalwa uSethi, lapho ithemba lavuselelwa; “ngoba uNkulunkulu,” kusho u-Eva, “ungibekele olunye imbewu esikhundleni sika-Abeli, owabulawa nguKaini.”⁸ Kamuva uSethi wabhalwa ohlwini lobuzalo oluvela ku-Adamu. (Bheka Genesise 5:3.) UKaini, izibulo langempela, akabhalwanga kulolu hlu lobuzalo. Kungenzeka ukuthi u-Eva wayecabanga ukuthi uSethi manje wayeyimbewu ethembisiwe. Kubonakala emibhalweni ukuthi ngemva kokuzalwa kukaSethi, abantu baqala ukuzibiza ngegama leNkosi. (Bheka umbhalo ohlangothini lweGenesise 4:26.) Mhlawumbe benza lokhu ngokucabanga ukuthi uSethi wayeyilowo owayezoba umbusi wokugcina, iNkosi, futhi ayehlise ubukhosi bukaSathane obungekho emthethweni.

GSAM 40Ithemba Eligxile KuNowa

GSAM 40.2Esigabeni esifushane semibhalo yezigameko kusukela ngesikhathi sika-Adamu kuze kube sekuzalweni kukaNowa, kunikezwe okuncane nje ngaphezu komlando womndeni womuntu. Ekuzalweni kukaNowa (“olungileyo,” kumargini) ithemba lavuka futhi, abantu bathi, “Lo yedwa uzosiduduza ngomsebenzi wethu nokuzikhandla kwezandla zethu, ngenxa yomhlabathi iNkosi eyawuqalekisa.”⁹ Izwi likaNkulunkulu lithule mayelana nokuthi, noma ngendlela ababekulindele ngayo induduzo; kodwa bekunethemba lokuthi isiqalekiso emhlabeni sasizokwehliswa ngandlela thile. Ulwazi ngobubi obabukhona ngesikhathi sikaNowa, lapho abantu babegcwalisa umhlaba ngesono nodlame kuze kube uhlanga lwabantu lususwe emhlabeni nguzamcolo, kwaphunyuka kuphela uNowa nomndeni wakhe ekubhujisweni; kanye nokuthi wayezoba neminyaka eyikhulu nengamashumi amabili exwayisa umhlaba ngokubhujiswa okwakuzayo, konke lokhu kwakufihlwe kubo.

GSAM 41Ukwakhiwa kweBhabheli

GSAM 41.1Emva kukazamcolo, abantu baqondiswa nguNowa ukuba bagcwalise umhlaba; kodwa njengoba beqala ukwanda, banqaba uhlelo lweNkosi lokubabusa. UNimrodhi wasungula umbuso waseBhabheli (owabizwa kamuva ngokuthi iBhabhiloni, uhulumeni wokuqala womhlaba).¹⁰ Emva kwesikhashana abantu baqala ukwakha umbhoshongo waseBhabheli ukuze bazakhele igama futhi bavimbele ukusatshalaliswa kwabo, okuphikisana ngokuphelele nalokho iNkosi eyayibafundise ngoNowa. Esikhundleni sokulinda ngokubekezela ukuthi iNkosi igcwalise izinhloso zayo, bathathe udaba ezandleni zabo, lapho uNkulunkulu edida ulimi lwabo, ngaleyo ndlela bahlakazeka.

GSAM 41U-Abrahama njengendlalifa yomhlaba

GSAM 41.2Uma silandela lo mbhalo omfushane siya kwesishumi ekuzalweni kukaNowa, sithola ukubizwa kuka-Abrahama, lowo iNkosi yathi kuye, “Lonke izwe olibonayo ngizolinika wena nezizukulwane zakho unaphakade. Futhi ngizokwenza inzalo yakho ifane nothuli lomhlaba; ukuze uma umuntu ekwazi ukubala uthuli lomhlaba, nenzalo yakho nayo izobalwa. Vuka, uhambahambe ezweni ngobude nangobubanzi balo; ngoba ngizokunika lona.”¹¹ Noma kunjalo, lesi sithembiso ku-Abrahama sokuba abe ngumnikazi waleli zwe, iNkosi yamqinisekisa ukuthi wayezofa. UPawulu uthi wahamba waya “endaweni ayeyothola kamuva njengifa.”¹² Lo mbuzo wokugcwaliseka kwesithembiso ngokungangabazeki wacaciselwa u-Abrahama embonweni ovela kuNkulunkulu, ngoba “wayebheke idolobha elinezisekelo, umakhi nomakhi walo uNkulunkulu.”¹³ KuRoma 4:13 kushiwo ukuthi isithembiso sasithi “ukuba abe yindlalifa yomhlaba;” hhayi esimweni sawo samanje, kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ngemva kokuba ephile futhi.

GSAM 42.1Ngokombono womuntu, u-Abrahama wehluleka ukubona ukuthi inzalo ethembisiwe ingaba kanjani izingane zakhe. Ngakho-ke waphakamisa ukubiza u-Eliezer, umphathi wakhe, njengembewu. INkosi yathi, “Cha; kodwa lowo ozovela ezithweni zakho.” Manje iNkosi iqala ukumveza ukuthi umsebenzi wokugcina wembewu yakhe awusoze wafeza ngokushesha. Yathi ku-Abrahama, “Inzalo yakho izoba isifokazi ezweni elingelilo labo, bazobakhonza; bazobahlupha iminyaka engamakhulu amane.... Wena uzo ya kubobokhokho bakho ngokuthula; uzongcwatywa esekhulile kahle.”¹⁴

GSAM 42.2Umka-Abrahama waphakamisa uhlelo olungafanele lokusheshisa ukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso; kodwa ngemva kokuzalwa kuka-Isaka, indodana yangempela ka-Abrahama noSara, umkakhe osemthethweni, iNkosi yathi ngo-Isimayeli nomama wakhe uHaga, “Khuphani lo wesifazane ongumgqila nendodana yakhe.”

GSAM 42.3Ekuvivinyweni kokholo luka-Abrahama ekunikeleni ngo-Isaka e-altare, wafunda isifundo ngendaba yokuvuka kwabafileyo. Kuthiwa ngaye, “Ebala ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayenamandla okumbuyisela [u-Isaka] ngisho nakwabafileyo; lapho-ke naye wamthola njengomfanekiso.”¹⁵

GSAM 42Imbewu Yangempela

GSAM 42.4U-Abrahama wake wafundiswa ukuthi Imbewu yangempela, ngaye zonke izizwe zazizobusiswa, nakuba iza ezizukulwaneni zakhe ngokwenyama, empeleni izoba uKristu kaNkulunkulu; ngoba iNkosi ayizange imtshele, “Imbewu, njengabaningi; kodwa njengomunye; futhi embewini yakho, ongukristu.”¹⁶ Umphostoli uPawulu wathi ngalokhu, “Umbhalo, ubona kusengaphambili ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzolungisisa abantu bezizwe ngokholo, washumayela iVangeli kusengaphambili ku-Abrahama, uthi, Kuwe zonke izizwe zizobusiswa.”¹⁷ Isithembiso esinikezwe u-Abrahama saphinde savuselelwa ku-Isaka nembewu yakhe,¹⁸ nakuJakobe.

GSAM 42.5Njengoba uJakobe enezindodana eziyishumi nambili, manje sekuyavela umbuzo: ubuzalo beMbewu yangempela buzolandelwa ngayiphi indodana? Ekufakazeleni okugqugquzelwe nguMoya okuvela kuJakobe mayelana nezindodana zakhe, udaba lwaxazululwa: “Isigodo soMbusi asisuki kuJuda, noma umthethisi phakathi kwezinyawo zakhe, kuze kufike uShilo; kuye kuzohlangana izizwe.”¹⁹ Ukuze lokhu kugcwaliseke, kufanelekile ukuqaphela lapha ukuthi ama-Israyeli, nakuba ayengaphansi kwezizwe ezahlukene, bavunyelwe ukuba neSanhedrin yabo. Ngakho-ke uJuda—isizwe samaJuda esibizwa ngoJuda—wayenelizwi kulawulo lwabo kuze kufike uShilo (uKristu).

GSAM 43Isikhathi Esifihliwe

GSAM 43.1Okhokho babephethe ulwazi oluthile mayelana nokubuyiselwa kanye nembewu eyathembisiwe; kodwa ukuthi wayezofika nini noma kwakusasele isikhathi esingakanani ngaphambi kokuba afike kwakusafihlwe kubo. Njengoba inzalo kaJakobe yanda eGibhithe, futhi u-Asiriya—uFaro (Isaya 52:4)—“ongamazi uJosefa”,²⁰ wabacindezela, imicabango yabo yaphenduka eminyakeni engu-400 (empeleni engu-430) eyayishiwo ku-Abrahama njengesikhathi esihlanganisa ukuhlupheka kwabo nokuhlala kwabo njengabokufika, bethemba ukuthi ukukhululwa kulokhu kuzoletha ifa elathembisiwe.

GSAM 43.2Lapho uMose ezalwa, abazali bakhe babona ukuthi “uyingane efanele.”²¹ Kwakufanele banikezwe ukukhanya ukuthi wayezoba, ngaphansi kukaNkulunkulu, umhlanguli wase-Israyeli ekuboshweni kwabo okunonya. Ngokungangabazeki lolu lwazi lwafundiswa uMose; ngoba lapho eneminyaka engamashumi amane, wanquma ngokuphelele ukuya nabantu baka-Israyeli abacindezelwe, nokubekezelela ubuhlungu nabo kunokuba abizwe indodana yendodakazi kaFaro nendlalifa yesihlalo sobukhosi saseGibhithe,²² futhi lapho eqala ukulwela abantu bakhe, wabulala umGibhithe ukuze abavikele, wamangala kakhulu ukuthi bangakuboni umsebenzi wakhe; “ngoba wayecabanga ukuthi abafowabo babezwisisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ngesandla sakhe wayezobasindisa.”²³

GSAM 44.1Lapho sekufikile isikhathi sikaJehova sokuba ama-Israyeli aphume eGibhithe, baphuma ngalo kanye usuku olwalubikezelwe. Eksodusi 12:40, 41. Babengakwazi ukubheka uMose njengombusi wabo wokugcina nembewu eyayithembisiwe, ngoba wayengowesizwe sikaLevi, futhi uJakobe, esiprofethweni sakhe esiphefumulelwe, akazange yini asho ukuthi uJuda uyoba umbusi wabo kuze kufike uShilo?

GSAM 44“Ngiyombona, kodwa hhayi manje.”

GSAM 44.2Lapho ama-Israyeli aye eKhanani, uBalaki, inkosi yaseMoabi (engumzukulwane kaLoti), wabiza uBalaam ukuze aqalekise u-Israyeli. INkosi yaguqula isiqalekiso sakhe saba yisibusiso, ngalokho bathola ukukhanya okwengeziwe, okuhloselwe ukususa umqondo wokuthi ukukhululwa kokugcina ekuthatheni kukaSathane ngokungekho emthethweni kwakuzokwenzeka ngokushesha lapho bengena eKhanani. Indaba eBhalweni ifundeka kanje: uBalaam, embonweni ovela kuNkulunkulu, wathi, “Ngizombona, kodwa hhayi manje; ngizombuka, kodwa hhayi eduze: kuzovela inkanyezi kuJakobe, futhi kuzovuka intonga yobukhosi e-Israyeli, ezoshaya izikhoneni zikaMoabhi, futhi ibhubhise zonke izingane zikaShethi.”²⁴

GSAM 44.3Le nzalo eningi eyavela ku-Abrahama ikhulunywa ngayo nguPawulu ngale ndlela: “Ngakho-ke kwavela kuye oyedwa, yena esefana nomuntu ofile, abaningi njengenkanyezi ezulwini ngobuningi, nasesihlabathini solwandle abangenakubalwa. Bonke laba bafa bekholweni, bengakazitholi izithembiso, kodwa bazibona zikude, bazamukela, bazibamba, futhi bavuma ukuthi bengabokufika nezihambi emhlabeni.”²⁵

GSAM 44.4Inhliziyo yakwa-Israyeli bekungadingeki idangele noma idikibale ngenxa yesiprofetho sikaBalaam sokuthi ukuphelela kwethemba labo “akwamanje,” noma “akuseduze;” ngoba iNkosi, kungakapheli isikhathi eside ngaphambi kwalesi siprofetho, yayethembise ukuphila kwayo ukuthi isimo esikhazimulayo sizofika ekugcineni. NgokukaMose wathi, “Kodwa njengoba ngiphila ngempela, umhlaba wonke uzogcwaliswa ngodumo lweNkosi.”²⁶ Ezinsukwini zomprofethi Habakuki, eminyakeni engu-863 kamuva, leli qiniso laliphindwa, kodwa lalikhulunywa njengesehlakalo esisazokwenzeka: “ngokuba umhlaba uzogcwaliswa ulwazi lobuqaqawuli bukaJehova, njengamanzi agcwalisa ulwandle.”²⁷

GSAM 45Inkonzo Yendawo Engcwele Isithombe Seqiniso

GSAM 45.1Lapho iNkosi ikhipha u-Israyeli eGibhithe, yamemezela phambi kwabo bonke abasezinkampeni umthetho wayo wezimiso zokuziphatha, yabaphakela ikhophi yawo ematsheni, ebhalwe ngomunwe wayo, ukuze bahlale beqondiswa kulo Msindisi ozogcina enikela ngokwakhe ngenxa yabo; futhi ngenxa yegazi lakhe eliyigugu izono zabo zihlanzwe, yasungula indawo engcwele ehlane. Leli tabernakeli, noma indawo engcwele, kuyo yonke imisebenzi yayo yokwakha, uMose wayeyaliwe ukuthi alenze ngokunembile ngokwesibonelo iNkosi eyamkhombisa entabeni.²⁸ Inkonzo kule ndawo engcwele yayiyithunzi lenkonzo yangempela kaKristu endaweni engcwele yasezulwini.²⁹ Ngenkathi inhloso kaNkulunkulu ezinikelweni nasezihlatshelweni zendawo engcwele yayingukubeka phambi kwabantu ithunzi “lezinto ezinhle ezizayo”,³⁰ umzamo kaSathane wawukuqondisa abantu ukuba babheke inikelo uqobo, esikhundleni sikaKristu nenkonzo yakhe yangempela, inikelo elaliyisibonelo sayo nje. Ngakho-ke wafuna ukubaholela ekuthembeni imisebenzi yabo ukuze bathole insindiso.

GSAM 45.2Kwabe kuwumgomo weNkosi ukuba ngumholi wabantu bakhe—ama-Israyeli—ukulwa izimpi zabo nokubusa izizwe. Wayenendlela yakhe yokubusa, njengoba kubonakala kulesi sibhalo esilandelayo: “Lapho esebhubhise izizwe eziyisikhombisa ezweni laseKhanani, wabela bona izwe lazo ngeloti. Emva kwalokho wanika abahluleli cishe iminyaka engu-450, kuze kube uSamuweli umprofethi.”³¹

GSAM 45U-Israyeli ucela inkosi

GSAM 45.3Ama-Israyeli ngokusobala awazange athande indlela iNkosi eyayibusa ngayo. Nokho, kwakuyinhloso yakhe nokuthanda kwakhe ukuthi babe isizwe esikhethekile, ehlukile kuwo wonke amanye ababezungezile. Bengabe belandela imiyalelo yakhe ngokucophelela, ngisho nezizwe bezizokhuluma ngabo zithi, “Impela lesi sizwe esikhulu siyisizwe esihlakaniphile nesiyaqonda. Ngoba yiliphi izwe elikhulu kangaka elinankulunkulu oseduze kwalo njengaye iNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu kukho konke esimcele ngakho?”³²

GSAM 46.1Ekunganelisekeni kwabo bacela uSamuweli ukuba ababekele inkosi, uJehova wathi kuSamuweli, “Banginqaba mina, ukuze ngingabusi phezu kwabo.”³³ Futhi baphinde bathi kuSamuweli, ngokucindezela okwengeziwe, “Manje usibekele inkosi ezosisahlulela njengazo zonke izizwe.”³⁴ USamuweli wabachazela ngokucophelela ucindezeleko ababezowuthola uma benenkosi, kodwa “noma kunjalo abantu benqaba ukulalela izwi likaSamuweli; bathi, Cha; kodwa siyobe sinekosi phezu kwethu; ukuze nathi sibe njengazo zonke izizwe; ikosi yethu isahlulele, iphume phambi kwethu, ilwe izimpi zethu.”³⁵

GSAM 46.2Ngakho babe namakhosi abababusa cishe iminyaka engamakhulu amahlanu, kuqala njengombuso owodwa ngaphansi kukaSawuli, uDavide noSolomoni; kamuva wahlukaniswa waba izizwe ezimbili, i-Israyeli neJuda. Amakhosi abo ambalwa kakhulu ayelungile futhi enobulungisa, kodwa iningi lawo lalibi, elahla abantu ekukhonzweni kwezithombe nasekwenzeni izono ezinkulu. Ngakho-ke abantu babengafani nje nezizwe ezizungezile ngokuba namakhosi, kodwa babefana nazo ekubi, ngokushiya uNkulunkulu wabokhokho babo, nokukhonza izithombe namabutho asezulwini.

GSAM 46.3INkosi yathi ngalokhu kubusa kobukhosi, ngomlomo womprofethi Hoseya, “O Israyeli, uzibhubhisile; kodwa kimi kusekhona usizo lwakho. Ngizoba inkosi yakho; kuphi omunye ongakusindisa kuzo zonke izixeko zakho? Futhi abahluleli bakho, owathi, Ngiphe inkosi nezikhulu? Ngakunika inkosi ngentukuthelo yami, ngayisusa ngentukuthelo yami.”³⁶

GSAM 47Umbuso Oguquliwe

GSAM 47.1Lokhu kubusa kobukhosi kwaqhubeka kuze kwaba yilapho amaKhaledi etshisa iJerusalema, ethatha izitsha zethempeli, bathwala uJuda bababopha eBhabhiloni, lapho bahlala khona iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa, njengoba kwakubikezelwe kubo. Lapho lokhu kulawula kombusi kuphela sekuphelile, iNkosi yathi ngomprofethi uHezekeli kuZedekiya, inkosi yabo yokugcina, “Wena inkosi engcolile nenonya yase-Israyeli, usuku lwakho selufikile lapho ububi buzophela, kanjalo kusho uJehova uNkulunkulu: Susa umqamelo wobukhosi, ususe isicoco: lokhu ngeke kube sekusafana: phakamisa ophansi [umlawuli waseBhabhiloni], bese wehlisa ophakeme [lo mlawuli oziphakamisile kakhulu wesizwe sakwaJuda]. Ngizophendukisa, ngiphendukise, ngiphendukise; futhi ngeke kube khona kuze kufike lowo okufanele abe nayo; ngiyomnika yena.”³⁷

GSAM 47.2Lo mlawuli onelungelo, iMbewu yangempela, nguKristu. Ngaye umprofethi uMikahe wabhala, “Wena, nqaba yomhlambi, inqaba eqinile yendodakazi yaseZiyoni, kuzofika kuwe, ngisho nobukhosi bokuqala [ubukhosi phezu komhlaba, obubuyiselwe kuKristu]: umbuso uzofika endodakazini yaseJerusalema.”³⁸

GSAM 47.3Lapho u-Israyeli elahlekelwa yintonga yobukhosi, yadluliselwa ezandleni zenkosi yaseBhabhiloni. Njengoba babe ngokulandelana ngaphansi kokubusa kweMedo-Phesiya, iGrisi, neRoma, umbuso waphenduka kathathu. Ngesikhathi sobukhosi bukaCesar Augustus, inkosi yaseRoma, uKristu, indlalifa efanele yesihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavide,—iMbewu yangempela yomfazi, ka-Abrahama, nekaDavide,—wazalwa, nangendlela eyayibikezelwe.

GSAM 47.4Ukuze abantu bazi ukuthi uMbusi ofanele, iMbewu yangempela, wayengaphezu komuntu ojwayelekile onombuso omfishane, iNkosi yagqugquzela umbhali weHubo ukuba abhale kanje: “Ngizomenza indodana yami yokuqala, aphakeme kunababusi bomhlaba. Ngizogcina umusa wami kuye phakade, kanti isivumelwano sami sizomi siqinile naye. Nembewu yakhe nayo ngizoyenza ihlale phakade, nesihlalo sakhe sobukhosi njengosuku lwezulu.” “Imbewu yakhe izohlala phakade, nesihlalo sakhe sobukhosi njengelanga phambi kwami. Sizomiselwa phakade njengenyanga, futhi njengofakazi othembekile ezulwini.”³⁹

GSAM 48.1Esiprofethweni sika-Isaya sifunda kabanzi ngalowo Mlawuli kanje: “Kithi kuzalwe ingane, kithi sinikezwe indodana; futhi umbuso uzoba ehlombe lakhe; igama lakhe lizobizwa ngokuthi Ommangaliso, uMmeli, uNkulunkulu oqinile, uBaba ongunaphakade, iNkosi Yokuthula. Ngokwanda kobukhosi bakhe nokuthula kwakhe akusoze kwaba nokuphela, esihlalweni sobukhosi bukaDavide, nobukumkani bakhe, ukulungisa nokusimamisa ngokwahlulela nangobulungisa kusukela manje kuze kube phakade. Umdlandla weNkosi yamabutho uyokufeza lokhu.”⁴⁰

GSAM 48Ukudluliswa kuka-Enoke no-Eliya

GSAM 48.2Kurekhodiwe izibonelo zabantu esikhathini esidlule abathuthelwa ezulwini bengakaze baphuze ukufa. Ngo-Enoke, wesikhombisa kusukela ku-Adamu, kuthiwa, “wahamba noNkulunkulu: wabe esengasekho; ngoba uNkulunkulu wamthatha.”⁴¹ “Ngenxa yokholo u-Enoke wadluliswa ukuze angaboni ukufa; akazange atholakale, ngoba uNkulunkulu wamdlulisela; ngaphambi kokudluliswa kwakhe wayenobufakazi bokuthi wayejabulisa uNkulunkulu.”⁴²

GSAM 48.3Futhi, njengoba u-Eliya no-Elisha behamba ndawonye, kwathi besahamba bexoxa, bheka kwavela inqola yomlilo namahhashi omlilo, kwahlukanisa bobabili; u-Eliya wakhuphuka ezulwini ngomoya wezivunguvungu. U-Elisha wakubona, wakhala wathi, “Baba wami, baba wami, nqola yakwa-Israyeli nabakhweli bamahhashi bakhona!” Akaphindanga wambona.⁴³

GSAM 48.4U-Enoke waphrofetha ngokufika kukaKristu njengomahluleli womhlaba wonke, ngala mazwi: “Bheka, iNkosi iyeza nezinkulungwane zabangcwele bayo, ukuze izoletha isahlulelo kubo bonke, nokubonisa bonke abangamngcwele phakathi kwabo zonke izenzo zabo zobungamngcwele abazenzile, kanye nazo zonke izinkulumo zabo eziqinile ezazikhulunywe ngaboni abangamngcwele ngokumelene naye.”⁴⁴

GSAM 49UJobe wafundisa ngokuza kweNkosi

GSAM 49.1UJobe, okucatshangwa ukuthi waphila ngesikhathi sikaMose, wayenolwazi oluthile mayelana nokufika kukaKristu nokuvuka kwabafileyo; ngoba wathi, “O, ukuthi amazwi ami abhalwe manje! O, ukuthi zazoshicilelwa encwadini! ukuthi zazoshaywa ngopeni wensimbi nangomthofu edwaleni unomphela! Ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi umhlengi wami uyaphila, nokuthi ngosuku lokugcina uzomela emhlabeni; nakuba ngemva kokubhujiswa kwesikhumba sami izibungu zibhubhisa lo mzimba, kodwa enyameni yami ngizombona uNkulunkulu: engizombona ngami, futhi amehlo ami azombona, hhayi omunye.”⁴⁵

GSAM 49Isihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavide, isihlalo sobukhosi seNkosi

GSAM 49.2Isihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavide sasibizwa ngokuthi isihlalo sobukhosi seNkosi. “USolomon wahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi bukaJehova njengenkosi esikhundleni sikaDavide uyise.”⁴⁶ INkosi yaye “yafunga isifungo kuye [uDavide], ukuthi esithelweni sesinqe sakhe, ngokwenyama, yayizovusa uKristu ukuze ahlale esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi: ebona lokhu ngaphambili wakhuluma ngokuvuka kukaKristu, ukuthi umphefumulo wakhe awushiywanga esihogweni, futhi nenyama yakhe ayizange ibone ukubola.”⁴⁷ Futhi kuphinde kuthiwe ngobukhosi bukaKristu obuzayo, Uzohlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaDavide. (Bheka Isaya 9:7.) Futhi, “Amakhosi omhlaba azibeka, nababusi baxoxisana ndawonye, ngokumelene neNkosi, nangokumelene noMthanjiswa wayo.... Kodwa ngibeke inkosi yami entabeni yami engcwele yaseZiyoni. Ngizokwazisa isinqumo: iNkosi yathi kimi, UnguNdodana yami; namuhla ngikuzelile.”⁴⁸ Futhi, “iNkosi yathi eNkosini yami, Hlala ngakwesokudla kwami, kuze ngenze izitha zakho zibe yisenabelo sezinyawo zakho.”⁴⁹

GSAM 49AmaJuda Adidekile

GSAM 49.3Lezi zibhalo zadida amaJuda. Kwakukhona inkinga ababengakwazi ukuyixazulula: uma uDavide embiza iNkosi, wayengumfana wakhe kanjani? Wayengaba kanjani ingane ezalwe ngembewu kaDavide, kodwa abe u-Immanuel—uNkulunkulu unathi? Kodwa u-Isaya, umprofethi wabo, wamemezela, “Intombi ezingakaze ibe nocansi izokhulelwa, izozala indodana, bese ibiza igama layo u-Immanuel.”⁵⁰

GSAM 50.1UKristu wayazi kahle umbuzo owawuzothulisa amaFarisi abaphikisayo, ngakho wababuza, “Nicabanga ukuthini ngoKristu? Ungumntwana kaubani? Bamphendula bathi, Ungumntwana kaDavide. Wathi kubo, Kanjani-ke uDavide, ngokomoya, emmbiza iNkosi, ethi, INkosi yathi eNkosini yami, Hlala ngakwesokudla kwami, kuze ngenze izitha zakho zibe isihlalo seenyawo zakho? Uma uDavide-ke emmbiza iNkosi, ungumfana wakhe kanjani?”⁵¹

GSAM 50.2Lolu daba luphinde lukhulunywe ngalo kuHubo 45:6, 7: “Isihlalo sakho sobukhosi, he Nkulunkulu, singunaphakade nanaphakade; intonga yobukhosi bakho iyintonga elungileyo. Uyathanda ubulungisa, futhi uzonda okubi; ngakho-ke uNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wakho, ukugcobile nge-oyela yenjabulo ngaphezu kwabalingani bakho.”⁵² Ngalawa mazwi eBhayibhelini engqondweni, abantu bamaJuda kumele babe nemibono ephakeme ngobuntu bomlawuli nomvuseleli ozayo. Bekungeke kube ngenye indlela.

GSAM 50Imbewu Yesiqalo Sobunkulunkulu

GSAM 50.3Kwabanikezwa imiyalelo ecacile mayelana noKristu nokuzalwa kwakhe, ngoba iNkosi, ngoMika umprofethi, yachaza umvelaphi wakhe onguNkulunkulu, ngisho nendawo yedolobhana lapho ayezalelwa khona: “Kodwa wena, Bethlehemu Ephirathi, yize incane phakathi kwezinkulungwane zaseJuda, kodwa kuwe kuzovela kimi lowo ozoba umholi kwa-Israyeli; izihambo zakhe zisukela kudala, kusukela phakade” (emaphethelweni, ngesiHebheru, kusuka “ezinsukwini zaphakade”).⁵³

GSAM 50Ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu obuvezwe kuShekinah nasefwini

GSAM 50.4Kamuva emlandweni wama-Israyeli, lapho uSolomoni eseqedile ukwakha ithempeli, ayesho ukuthi kumele libe “likhulu ngokwedlulele,” iShekinah yodumo lukaNkulunkulu yathatha isikhundla sayo phakathi kwamaKerubhi ngaphezulu kwesihlalo somusa. Irekhodi lithi ekunikezelweni kwethempeli, lapho abapristi bephuma endaweni engcwele, “ifu lagcwalisa indlu kaJehova, kangangokuba abapristi abakwazanga ukuma benkonza ngenxa yelifu: ngokuba uzuko lukaJehova lagcwalisa indlu kaJehova.”⁵⁴ Ubukhona bukaJehova kuleli thempeli babonakala emehlweni abantu efwini lenkazimulo. INkosi yaphendula umthandazo kaSolomoni ngalesi sikhathi, yathi kuye, “Ngizwe umthandazo wakho, ngikhethe le ndawo kimi njengendlu yokunikela ngemihlatshelo.”⁵⁵

GSAM 51.1Abantu benza isono—baphenduka ekukhonzweni kwezithombe—ngakho-ke idolobha labo nendawo engcwele yabo kwaphahlazeka iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa. Ngemva kobukhoboka, ithempeli lakhiwa kabusha ngesandla sikaZerubhabeli. Nakuba lingaphansi kobuhle kunalelo elakhiwe nguSolomoni, iNkosi yathi ngomprofethi wayo, “Inhlonipho yale ndlu yesibili izoba nkulu kunaleyo yokuqala.”⁵⁶ Le ndlu yahlotshiswa nguHerode, futhi emagcekeni ayo uMsindisi wafundisa. Indlu yokuqala yayinelifu lobuqaqawuli elimelela iNkosi, kodwa endlini yesibili kwangena uMsindisi uqobo, uMdali wazo zonke izinto.

GSAM 51Ubukhosi Obuhle Besiqu SikaJesi

GSAM 51.2Kulabo abalindileyo, abalindele ngokwethemba ngesikhathi sika-Isaya, izethulo ngesiprofetho sakhe zezinto ezinkulu ezihambisana nokukhululwa kokugcina kumele ukuthi zaziyinhloko yamandla nokukhuthazwa. Lezi ziprofetho ziphinde zichaza ngokucacile umugqa lapho lo Msindisi olindelekile ozovela khona, kanje: “Futhi kuzovela induku esidlekeni sikaJese, futhi igatsha lizokhula ezimpandeni zakhe: nomoya weNkosi uzobeka phezu kwakhe, umoya wobuhlakani nokuqonda, umoya wezeluleko namandla, umoya wolwazi nokwesaba iNkosi; futhi uzomenza abe nokuqonda okusheshayo ekwesabeni iNkosi; futhi ngeke ahlulele ngokubona kwamehlo akhe, noma axwayise ngokuzwa kwezindlebe zakhe: kodwa ngobulungisa uzohlulela abampofu, futhi axwayise ngobulungiswa kwabathobekile bomhlaba: futhi uzoshaya umhlaba ngentonga yomlomo wakhe, nangomoya wezindebe zakhe uzobulala abenzi bobubi.”⁵⁷

GSAM 52Ukuvuka Okufundiswe Ngabaprofethi

GSAM 52.1Umprofethi Isaya naye wafundisa imfundiso yokuvuka kwabafileyo, ngalezi zisho eziduduzayo: “Kule ntaba iNkosi yamabutho izokwenzela bonke abantu umkhosi wokudla okunothile, umkhosi wewayini eligcinwe enhleseni, wokudla okunothile okugcwele umnkantsha, newayini eligcinwe enhleseni elicwengekile kahle. Futhi uyobhubhisa kule ntaba ubuso besigubuzelo esibekwe phezu kwabo bonke abantu, nesihenqo esisakazeke phezu kwazo zonke izizwe. Uzogwinya ukufa ngokunqoba; iNkosi uNkulunkulu izosula izinyembezi ebusweni bonke, futhi izosusa ukugxekwa kwabantu bayo kulo lonke izwe; ngoba iNkosi ikhulume. Kuyothiwa ngalolo suku, Nangu uNkulunkulu wethu; salindele yena, futhi uzosisindisa: lo nguye iNkosi; salindele yena, sizojabula sithokoze ekusindisweni kwakhe.”⁵⁸

GSAM 52Umbuso womhlaba ovuselelwe

GSAM 52.2Lo mprofethi ofanayo uthi kuzoba umhlaba ovuselelwe lapho ukubusa kokugcina kuzomiselwa khona: “Bheka, ngidala izulu elisha [izulu lomoya] nomhlaba omusha; futhi okwakudala ngeke kukhunjulwe, noma kungene engqondweni [emaphethelweni, isiHebheru, ‘kungene enhliziyweni,’ okusho ukuthi, ukufunwa futhi]. Kodwa nina nijabule nithokoze phakade ngalokho engikudalayo: ngokuba, nansi, ngidala iJerusalema ukuba ijabule, nabantu bayo ukuba babe yintokozo. Futhi ngizojabula eJerusalema, ngithokoze ngabantu bami: futhi izwi lokulila ngeke lisaphinde lizwakale kuyo, noma izwi lokukhala. Kusukela lapho [kusukela ngesikhathi umhlaba omusha udalwe] ngeke kube khona ingane ephila izinsuku ezimbalwa [ingane ephila isikhathi esifushane], noma indoda endala engagcwalisi izinsuku zayo [ukuguga ngaphambi kwesikhathi]: ngokuba umntwana uyofa eneminyaka eyikhulu [ezinsukwini lapho abantu bebephila iminyaka engamakhulu ayisishiyagalolunye izingane zazingase zibe neminyaka eyikhulu]; kodwa umoni eseneminyaka eyikhulu [eminyakeni yokugcina yempilo yeminyaka eyikhulu] uzoba ngaphansi kwesiqalekiso. [Labo abafa ngesikhathi umhlaba omusha ulethelwa yilabo abalahleka ‘ekubhujisweni kwabantu abangamukeli uNkulunkulu’. 2 Petru 3:7.] Bazakha izindlu bahlale kuzo; bazotshala amadiliya badle izithelo azo. Abazakhi, omunye ahlale; abatshali, omunye adle: ngokuba izinsuku zomuthi [umuthi wokuphila, iSeptuaginta] ziyizinsuku zabantu bami, nokhethiweyo wami bazojabulela isikhathi eside umsebenzi wezandla zabo.”⁵⁹

GSAM 53.1UHezekeli ubheka phansi ngombono omude wesikhathi kuze kufike ukuvuka kwabafileyo. Ngaye iNkosi ithi, “Bheka, bantu bami, ngizovula imigodi yenu yokungcwaba, ngizokwenza nibe phakama emigodini yenu, ngikuletheni ezweni lase-Israyeli.”⁶⁰

GSAM 53“Wathwala Ubuhlungu Bethu”

GSAM 53.2Ku-Isaya, umprofethi wevangeli, kwavezwa ngokugcwele isilingo, ukuhlupheka nokufa komhlangulayo ngenxa yabantu. “Ubani,” kusho umprofethi, “okukholwe umbiko wethu? Futhi kubonwe bani ingalo kaJehova? Ngokuba uyakhula phambi kwakhe njengesisele esithambile, nanjengesisekelo esiphuma emhlabathini owomile; akanamumo nokubukeka; futhi lapho simbona, akukho buhle esingamfuna ngabo. Uhlazekile futhi waphoswa ngabantu; indoda yezihlupho, eyaziyo ukudabuka; futhi sabifihla ubuso bethu kuye; wahlazeka, futhi asizange simhloniphe. Nakanjani wathwala izililo zethu, waphatha imihlupho yethu; kodwa sasicabanga ukuthi ushaye, eshayawe nguNkulunkulu, futhi ecindezelwe. Kodwa wathola izilonda ngenxa yeziphambeko zethu, waphukiswa ngenxa yobubi bethu; isigwebo sokuthula kwethu sasiphezu kwakhe; futhi ngemigqa yakhe siphilisiwe.”⁶¹

GSAM 53.3Ingabe lezi zenzakalo zimangalisayo kangaka ukuba zenzeke ngesikhathi sami? abantu, kanye nomprofethi, babengabuza. Impendulo ibingathi, Azikenzeki manje; isikhathi sokufika kwalo Msindisi omkhulu asikafiki; kodwa umprofethi uthi, “Amehlo akho azobona iNkosi ebukekeni bayo; bazobona izwe elikude kakhulu.”⁶²

GSAM 54Iziprofetho zikaDaniyeli Ziveza Ikusasa

GSAM 54.1Kodwa-ke, kwaba ngomprofethi uDaniyeli lapho iNkosi yaqala ukufundisa abantu bayo mayelana nemibuso ezolandelana ezovela futhi abuse kuze kube sekumisweni kombuso wayo ongunaphakade; nokuveza isikhathi esikhethekile, kusukela esenzweni esasizokwenzeka ngaleso sikhathi, kuze kube sekubonakaleni kwangempela nokubhujiswa kukaMesiya. Ukuchazwa kophupho lukaNebukadenesari kwaveza ukuthi imibuso emine eyayizobusa umhlaba yayizokwehla ngamandla nangobukhulu ngokwezinga lokwehla kwenani legolide, isiliva, ithusi, nensimbi; nokuthi ekugcineni isimo esaphukile, esingahlangene semibuso sasizofana nobuthakathaka bensimbi exutshwe nodaka. Kwase kuzofika umbuso wezulu owawuzolandela ukuncipha kwaleyo mibuso eyayizoba njengamakhoba esibuya sasehlobo, ukuze kungatholakali indawo yayo, kanti umbuso kaNkulunkulu wawuzogcwalisa umhlaba wonke.

GSAM 54.2Bese, embonweni wesahluko sesikhombisa, ngaphansi kwezifanekiso zezilwane ezine ezinkulu, kubuyekezwa indawo efanayo futhi kwethulwa nezinye izici zale mibuso. Kulesi sahluko kulandelwa umkhondo womsebenzi namasu wamandla “ophondo oluncane” okwakuzovela, ngemva kokwahlukaniswa kombuso wesine izingxenye eziyishumi, ephula noma ecindezela ezintathu kuzo ukuze izibeke njengombusi wokomoya phezu kwazo zonke. Leli gunya likaPapa lizoqhubeka lisesimweni esihlukene nesibuthakathaka sombuso wesine, iminyaka engu-1260. Ngaleyo ndlela kwavezwa izenzakalo eziya kuze kufike isikhathi lapho uKristu ethola umbuso kuyise, awunike abangcwele boMninimandla Onke; umbuso ozosekupheleni ubusa wonke umhlaba, futhi ozosala unaphakade.

GSAM 55Izinsuku Eziyizinkulungwane Ezimbili Namakhulu Amathathu

GSAM 55.1Esahlukweni sesishiyagalombili sikaDaniyeli, ngaphansi kombono wenqama, nembuzi, kanye “nophondo oluncane olwakhula kakhulu,” umprofethi uphinde ahanjiswe ekugcineni kwesikhathi. Ezindimeni 13 no-14 ukunaka kwakhe kubhekiselwa esikhathini—izinsuku ezingama-2300—esiqhubeka kuze kufike isahlulelo. Lesi kwakuyisikhathi eside kakhulu, ngakho-ke umprofethi wayiqonda; ngoba ingelosi yamxwayisa ukuthi umbono wawusazoba ngemva kwezinsuku eziningi. Kuze kube manje kwakungekho usuku olwenziwe lokuqala kwalezo zinsuku, ngakho-ke uvala isahluko ngokuthi, “Ngamangala ngombono; kodwa akekho owawuqonda.”

GSAM 55Amaviki Angamashumi Ayisikhombisa Aya kuMesiya

GSAM 55.2Isahluko sesishiyagalolunye sisho ngengelosi eyafika kuDaniyeli, ngenxa yesicelo sakhe, ukuze imnike amakhono nokuqonda. Wamxoxela ngesikhathi samaviki angamashumi ayisikhombisa. Amaviki angamashumi ayisithupha nesishiyagalolunye kulawa maviki eminyaka [okusho ukuthi, njengoba sixelwe, yincazelo yegama elithi shevooim, eliguqulelwe ngokuthi “amaviki”] ayeza kuMesiya. Indawo lapho lesi sikhathi sasizoqala khona, “umyalo wokubuyisela nokwakha iJerusalema,” wawungakanikezwa. Kuphakama umbuzo othi, uDaniyeli wayengazi kanjani ukuthi amaviki angamashumi ayisithupha nesishiyagalolunye ayophela kuphi? Esahlukweni seshumi nambili umbuzo wesikhathi uphinde ucatshangelwe, futhi ekubuzweni kwakhe, “Kuyoba yini isiphetho salezi zinto?” watshelwa ukuthi ahambe endleleni yakhe, ngoba la mazwi “avalwe futhi abekwe uphawu kuze kube yisikhathi sokuphela,” lapho “abahlakaniphile bazokuqonda.”

GSAM 55.3Ngokungangabazeki, lo mbuzo wesikhathi ungesinye sezibonelo umphostoli uPetru akhuluma ngazo lapho ethi, “Ngalesi sisindiso abaprofethi bafuna futhi bahlola ngokucophelela, abaprofetha ngomusa owawuzofika kini: befuna ukuthi yisiphi isikhathi noma uhlobo lwesikhathi uMoya kaKristu okwawo kubo owawubonisa, lapho ubufakazela kusenesikhathi ngezihlupho zikaKristu nenkazimulo eyayizolandela.”⁶³

GSAM 56Isiphetho Sabangamkholwa

GSAM 56.1UMalaki, ongumprofethi wokugcina weTestamente Elidala, ushiya incazelo eshaqisayo yokubhujiswa kokugcina kwababi: “Bheka, usuku luyafika oluzoshisa njengovini; bonke abazigqaja, yebo, bonke abenza okubi, bazoba utshani; futhi usuku oluzayo luzobashisa, kusho iNkosi yamabutho, kangangokuba abasoze bashiye impande noma igatsha. Kodwa kini abanesaba igama lami, kuzovuka Ilanga lobulungisa linezimpiko zalo ezinokuphulukisa; nizophuma niphaphame njengezinkonyana ezisanda kuzalwa. Nizogiliza ababi; ngoba bazoba uthuli ngaphansi kwezinyawo zenu ngosuku engizokwenza ngalo lokhu, kusho iNkosi yamabutho.”⁶⁴

GSAM 56.2Ngenxa yalawo maqiniso onke abhalwe eTestamenteni Elidala ayeyiphethe ama-Israyeli, abavulela izici eziningi zohlelo lokusindiswa, bekumele kube mkhulu kangakanani intshisekelo yabafundi abazimisele bamazwi njengoba bebona futhi beqonda ukuthi sebesondela esikhathini lapho le Mbewu ethembisiwe izofika. Ngenkathi izixuku, ngisho nalabo abafundela imiBhalo emasinagogeni njalo ngeSabatha, bengakuqondi izwi (Izenzo 13:27), abangcwele, abazimisele, ababephenya ngokwethembeka imiBhalo ngaphansi kokuholwa koMoya, ngokungangabazeki babethandaza ngokuzimisela, njengalokhu kwenziwa ngumphostoli uJohane kulesi sikhathi, “Woza, Nkosi uJesu, woza masinyane.”