Isahluko 5 — Umyalezo Wokufika Kwesibili kukaKristu

GSAM 93.1“Manje fundani isifaniso somuthi wefigi: Uma igatsha lawo lisathambile futhi likhipha amaqabunga, niyazi ukuthi ihlobo lisiseduze; kanjalo nani, lapho nibona zonke lezi zinto, yazi ukuthi [embhalweni oseceleni, yena] isiseduze, isemnyango. Ngempela ngithi kini, Lesi sizukulwane ngeke sidlule kuze kugcwaliswe zonke lezi zinto. Izulu nomhlaba kuzodlula, kodwa amazwi ami ngeke adlule.”¹

GSAM 93.2Kulesi sibhalo ukunaka kwethu kugxile esikhathini lapho kungenzeka ukufunda ukuthi ukuza kukaKristu “sekusemnyango” ngokuqiniseka okufanayo nalapho sazi ukuthi ihlobo lisiseduze lapho sibona amagqabi amasha athambile eqala ukuvela. Kungaziwa futhi ukuthi sesifikile esizukulwaneni esingasoze sadlula esiteji senzo kuze uKristu uqobo afike. Lapho kufika isikhathi sokufunda isifaniso, kuyiqiniso ngokuqinile ukuthi yisikhathi seNkosi sokuvusa othisha ukuze bafundise isifaniso. Umbuzo womphostoli kwenye indawo uyafaneleka lapha ngokulinganayo, “Bazowuzwa kanjani umshumayeli engabikho? Futhi bazoshumayela kanjani uma bengathunyelwanga?”²

GSAM 93Isikhathi Sezimpawu

GSAM 93.3Esahlukweni esedlule sabona ukuthi ulwazi lwatholakala kanjani mayelana nokuphela kwesikhathi sezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu, nokuthi lwalufinyelela “ihora lokwahlulela kwakhe.” Esifaniso esethulwe lapha silethwa esikhathini seNkosi sokuba lesi sifaniso nomyalezo “wokwahlulela” kumenyezelwe emhlabeni. Ngemva kokukhuluma “ngokuhlupheka” okukhulu okwakuzokwenzeka kubantu bakhe “okwakuzofushaniswa”, uMsindisi wathi, “Ngokushesha ngemva kwesihlupho salezo zinsuku ilanga lizoba mnyama, inyanga ngeke ikhanyise, izinkanyezi zizawa ezulwini, amandla ezulwini azoshukunyiswa; khona-ke kuzovela uphawu loNdodana yomuntu ezulwini.”³

GSAM 94.1Qaphela, akusho ukuthi uphawu lokugcina olukhulunywe ngalo luyisibonakaliso sokufika kwakhe; kodwa luphawu lokuthi iNdodana yomuntu ikhona, ibonakala ifika. Iziganeko ezinikezwe kulo mbhalo njengezimpawu zokuthembela ekutheni uzoza maduzane yizona eziphathelene nelanga, nenyanga nezinkanyezi. Ezinye iziganeko ezilandelayo zenzeka ngokuhambisana nokufika kwakhe ngempela emafini ezulwini. Ngakho-ke ngokushesha ngemva kwesithathu salezi zimpawu—leyo esezinkanyezini—kuza isikhathi seNkosi sokuvusa abafundisi bayo ukuze bafundise ukuthi ukuza kukaKristu sekuseduze.

GSAM 94.2Manje mayelana nesikhathi sokubonakala kwalezi zimpawu: kwakuzoba ngokushesha ngemuva kokuhlupheka ukuthi ilanga lizofiphala.⁴ Njengoba uMaka ebhala, kwakuzoba “ngalolosuku, ngemuva kwalokho kuhlupheka.”⁵ UMsindisi wethu wayesho ukuthi izinsuku zizofushaniswa. Ngokomyalelo kaMaria Theresa kanye neMithetho Yokubekezelelana kusukela ngo-1773 kuya ku-1776, intukuthelo yokuhlukunyezwa kwebandla yafushaniselwa. Nakuba amandla okuhlukunyezwa egcine ukulawula amandla ombuso kuze kube ngu-1798, ukuhlukunyezwa kwawo kwaphela cishe ngo-1773. Uma kuqhathaniswa izitatimende zoMsindisi, okokuqala kwezimpawu kuzobekwa phakathi kuka-1773 no-1798.

GSAM 94Usuku Nobusuku Obumnyama

GSAM 94.3Ngomhla ka-19 kuMeyi 1780, ilanga lafiphazwa ngokungaphezu kwemvelo. Kwabe kungenakho ukufiphala kwelanga, njengoba inyanga yayigcwele ngosuku olwedlule. Naphezu kwalokhu kwaba nobumnyama phezu kwazo zonke izingxenye ezisempumalanga enyakatho ye-United States kusukela ngo-11 ekuseni kuze kube ngo-11 ebusuku. Ngaleso sikhathi akukhona nje ukuthi ilanga laba mnyama, kodwa nenyanga yala ukubonisa ukukhanya kwelanga. Kwaba ubumnyama obuvimbela ilanga ekukhanyeni ebusweni benyanga. Futhi njengoba kwashiwo nguNoah Webster eminyakeni eminingi kamuva, “Akukaze kunikezwe isizathu esanelisayo salobu bumnyama.”

GSAM 95.1Ngalolu suku olumnyama, uHerschel, isazi sezinkanyezi, wathi: “Usuku Olumnyama eNyakatho Melika kwaba ngomunye walezi zimangaliso zemvelo ezizohlale zifundwa ngentshisekelo, kodwa ifilosofi ayikwazi ukuzichaza.”

GSAM 95.2Labo abachaza ubumnyama bobusuku bomhla zingama-19 kuMeyi 1780 bathi, naphezu kokuba kwakukhona inyanga egcwele, ukuthi “ukube zonke izinto ezikhanyayo emkhathini zazisuswa, ubumnyama babungeke bube buphelele ngaphezu kwalokho.”

GSAM 95Ukudilika Kwezinkanyezi

GSAM 95.3Isibonakaliso sesithathu kulezi zimpawu, ukuwa kwezinkanyezi, sagcwaliseka ngomhla ka-13 Novemba 1833. Ngobusuku obo, noma ngokunembile kusukela emahoreni amahlanu ngaphambi kokusa, kwaba nokuna kwezinkanyezi okwafaniswa abanye nemifula yomlilo ephuma ezulwini; kwabanye, nezinhlansi zomlilo eziphuma emibhobheni yomlilo emikhulu. Lesi simanga sabonakala kuyo yonke iNyakatho Melika, kusukela ethekwini laseMexico eningizimu kuya ethekwini likaHudson enyakatho, futhi kusukela eziqhingini zaseSandwich entshonalanga kuya cishe kumamayela angamakhulu ambalwa ukusuka eLiverpool empumalanga. Noma kwabonwa kuphi, kwakuyimvula efanayo eqhubekayo yezinkanyezi, ziwa ngobuningi njengezinhlayiya zeqhwa esiphepho seqhwa.

GSAM 95.4Mayelana nale mvula yezinkanyezi yango-1833, siphinde sicaphune ku-Connecticut Observer kaNovemba 25, 1833:—

GSAM 95.5“Umhleli we-Old Countryman ubheka ngokungathi sína kakhulu ‘izinkanyezi ezawa.’ Uthi, ‘Sithi le mvula yomlilo esayibona ngoLwesithathu ekuseni edlule, iyisibonakaliso esesabekayo, umkhombandlela oqinisekile, uphawu olunomusa, walolo suku olukhulu nolwesabekayo abahlali bomhlaba abazolubona lapho kuvulwa uphawu lwesithupha. Isikhathi sesiseduze, sichazwe hhayi kuphela eTestamenteni Elisha kodwa naseTestamenteni Elidala; futhi kwakungekho isithombe esichanekileyo esingcono somuthi wefigi ukhipha izithelo zawo lapho uphethwe umoya onamandla, kwakungeke sibonwe.’”

GSAM 96Umbikezelo kaThomas Burnett

GSAM 96.1Abantu babefundiswe yizizukulwane zangaphambilini ukuba balindele ukugcwaliseka ngokoqobo kwalesi sibonakaliso. UThomas Burnett, encwadini yakhe ethi Theory of the Earth, eyashicilelwa eLondon ngonyaka ka-1697, wathi ngoMathewu 24:29:—

GSAM 96.2“Akungabazeki ukuthi kuzoba nazo zonke izinhlobo zezinkanyezi ezivuthayo ngaleso sikhathi; futhi phakathi kwazo kunezibizwa ngokuthi izinkanyezi eziwayo, ezingabalulekile ngazinye, kodwa uma zandiswa zibe ziningi, ziwela, njengoba umprofethi esho, njengamakhasi evayini noma amafigi esihlahleni sefigi, zingenza umbono omangalisayo.... Asidingi ukubheka lezi zinto njengokweqisa noma izingoma zobuciko, kodwa njengeziprofetho ezingafihli lutho nezinto ezizokwenzeka ngokoqobo.”

GSAM 96Ubufakazi bukaOlmstead

GSAM 96.3UProfesa Olmstead, waseKholeji yaseYale, eMass., owake wabizwa ngokuthi “umcwaningi wezulu omkhulu kunabo bonke eMelika,” wathi mayelana nezinkanyezi ezawa zangoNovemba 13, 1833:—

GSAM 96.4“Ububanzi bemvula yezinkanyezi yango-1833 babukhulu kangangokuthi bahlanganisa ingxenye enkulu yomhlaba, kusukela phakathi kwe-Atlantic empumalanga kuya e-Pacific entshonalanga; futhi kusukela ogwini oluseNyakatho lweNingizimu Melika kuya ezindaweni ezingachazwanga phakathi kwezindawo eziphethwe amaBrithani enyakatho. Ukubonakala kwezinkanyezi ezidubulayo kwakungekho nje kuphela okubonakalayo, kodwa kwakubonakala ngokufanayo yonke indawo.”

GSAM 96.5Ngalesi siboniso, esiqale cishe ngo-11 ebusuku mhla ziyi-12 kuNovemba, saqhubeka kuze kube cishe ngo-4 ekuseni mhla ziyi-13, uprofesa uthi:—

GSAM 96.6“Labo ababenethuba lokubona umbukiso wezinkanyezi ezidubulayo ekuseni komhla ka-13 Novemba 1833, cishe babone umbukiso omkhulu kunawo wonke wemibhobho yomlilo yasemkhathini owake wabonwa kusukela ekudalweni komhlaba, noma okungenani ngaphakathi kwamarekhodi agcinwe emaKhasi Omlando.”

GSAM 97Imvula Yezinkanyezi Yabonakala NaseYurophu

GSAM 97.1Encwadini eshicilelwe nguLeonard Heinrich Kelber eStuttgart, eJalimane, ngonyaka ka-1835, sifunda ukuthi lesi sibonakaliso siphindwe kwelinye uhlangothi lwe-Atlantic, ngenyanga efanayo, kodwa izinsuku ezimbalwa kamuva. Uthi:—

GSAM 97.2“NgoNovemba 25, 1833, kwaba nombukiso omuhle wezinkanyezi ezihla ezwekazini laseYurophu,” futhi “eMinsterburg, eSilesia, izinkanyezi zawa njengemvula yomlilo. Kanye nazo kwawa amabhola omlilo, kwenza ubusuku bube bukhanya kangangokuba abantu bacabanga ukuthi izindlu eziseduze nazo zazivutha umlilo.

GSAM 97.3“Ngasikhathi sinye ePrin, e-Austria, kwaba nokuwela kwezinkanyezi okwagubungela indawo engaphezu kwamamayela-skwele angamakhulu amahlanu. Kwabikwa abanye njengemifula yomlilo ephuma ezulwini. Abanye babiza lokhu ngokuthi imvula yomlilo. Amahhashi ayesaba, awehla phansi. Abantu abaningi bagula ngenxa yokwesaba.”

GSAM 97Ukusetshenziswa Kwesifaniso

GSAM 97.4Ehla kulo mkhondo wokubikezela edlula ekugcwalisweni kwesibonakaliso sesithathu—ukuwela kwezinkanyezi—uMsindisi wethu uthi, “Manje fundani isifaniso somuthi wefigi.” Lolu limi alusebenzi esizukulwaneni esasiphila ngesikhathi iNkosi yethu inikeza le nkulumo, kodwa esizukulwaneni esasizobona lezi zinto zigcwalisekile—hhayi ezigcwalisayo, kodwa ezigcwalisekile. Izinto okufanele zigcwaliswe njengezimpawu zokuthi uKristu usemnyango azifaki ukuzamazama kwamazulu lapho ezobonakala eza ngempela. Lezi zimpawu zokufika kwakhe okusondelene zifaka lesi siphawu sesithathu, esiphathelene nezinkanyezi. Isikhathi uJehova asibekele abantu ukufunda isifaniso somuthi wefigi siqala ngemva konyaka ka-1833. Nasi isikhathi sikaJehova sokuvusa umhlaba eqinisweni elikhulu lokuthi ukufika kwakhe sekusemnyango, nokuthi ukufika kwakhe kuzokwenzeka ngaphambi kokudlula kwesizukulwane esizosizwa leso sifaniso. Ngakho-ke siyabona ukuthi isikhathi siphawulwe kanjani kulesi siprofetho lapho isimemezelo esikhulu sokufika kwakhe kufanele sinikezwe umhlaba.

GSAM 98Isimemezelo Emhlabeni Wonke

GSAM 98.1Ukuze kugcwaliseke lesi siprofetho sithola ukuthi ngaleso sikhathi nakuleyo ndawo ngo-1833, iNkosi yayivusa izithunywa zayo noma abashumayeli ezingxenyeni ezahlukene zomhlaba, abasuka ngo-1833 baya ku-1844 bamemezela ukuthi ukuza kukaKristu sekuseduze, “ngisho emnyango;” futhi bafundisa isifaniso somuthi wefigi, bekhomba lezi zimpawu zokufika kwakhe, njengoba wayebayalile ukuba benze kanjalo. Lo myalezo, noma ngothisha ophilayo noma ngokushicilelwa kwamaphepha, wafika kuzo zonke iziteshi zabamishinari emhlabeni wonke, nakuzo zonke izikhumulo zokuhamba ngasolwandle emhlabeni.

GSAM 98.2Ububanzi bomyalezo bubekwe ngokusobala ngumhleli we-Voice of Truth, waseRochester, eNew York, kunombolo yangoJanuwari 1845:—

GSAM 98.3“Ivangeli elingapheli, njengoba lichazwe ku-IsAmbulo 14:6, 7, selishunyayelwe kuzo zonke izizwe, imindeni, izilimi nabantu bonke; lisho ngelizwi elikhulu, ‘Yesabani uNkulunkulu, nimnike udumo; ngoba sekufikile isikhathi sokwahlulela kwakhe: niyakhonze lowo owadala izulu nomhlaba, ulwandle nemithombo yamanzi.’ Akukho cala elingafakazeka ngokucacile ngamaqiniso njengalokhu ukuthi lo myalezo ulethwe kuzo zonke izizwe nezilimi ngaphansi kwesibhakabhaka, eminyakeni embalwa edlule, ekushumayeleni ukuza kukaKristu ngo-1843 [1843, isikhathi samaJuda—isikhathi sethu, 1844], noma ekusondelweni kwakhe. Ngokusebenzisa izinkulumo nezincwadi ezishicilelwe, umsindo usabalale emhlabeni wonke, namazwi aya eziphelweni zomhlaba.”

GSAM 98.4Abanye abantu, abangazi ngalezi zimo, babheke lo mkhankaso wokubuya kwesibili kukaKristu njengowendawo ethile kuphela, becabanga ukuthi kuwumsebenzi ohlobene noWilliam Miller nabangamakhulu ambalwa abashumayeli ababebambisene naye engxenyeni enyakatho ye-United States. Kulabo abanjalo kungaba isimanga ukwazi ukuthi umkhankaso waseMelika, lapho oMfundisi Miller noHimes babe abaholi abavelele, wawuyingxenye encane kuphela yomkhankaso omkhulu owawuthi, njengoba kushiwo ngenhla, wahamba “eziphelweni zomhlaba.”

GSAM 99INDLELA UMKHANKASO OWAQALA NGAYO EZIZWENI EZIHLUKAHLUKENE

GSAM 99.1Kwafika isikhathi seNkosi sokuthi lo mkhankaso umemezelwe emhlabeni wonke, futhi cishe ngesikhathi esisodwa ezindaweni ezingamashumi amabili nangaphezulu ezehlukene zomhlaba, kwavela abantu abavuselelwe, abangazi ngomsebenzi womunye nomunye, abahamba bememezela lo myalezo kuwo wonke umhlaba. Labo abakhulunywe ngabo esahlukweni 4, abamukele ukukhanya mayelana nokuphela kwezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu, ngaphandle kuka-A. Campbell oyedwa, bagqugquzelwa ukuba babambe iqhaza ekumemezelweni komyalezo wengelosi yokuqala weSambulo 14; lokhu nakho kwenzeka ngqo ngokusebenza koMoya kaNkulunkulu, hhayi ngokwabelana ngalokho ukukhanya komunye nomunye.

GSAM 99Ukuqhathaniswa Nokuvuselelwa Kwenkolo

GSAM 99.2Uma sisebenzisa lo mthetho ofanayo kulo mkhankaso njengalowo uD'Aubigné awusebenzisa ekunyukeni kokuvuselelwa kwenkolo okukhulu ngekhulu le-16, ngokuqinisekile kumele kubalwe njengomyalezo weNkosi nangesikhathi seNkosi. Ngalokho kuvuselelwa kwenkolo konke umbhali womlando wathi:—

GSAM 99.3“IJalimane alizange yidlulisele iqiniso eSwitzerland, noma iSwitzerland eFrance, noma iFrance eNgilandi. Zonke lezi zizwe zazithola lona kuNkulunkulu, njengokuba ingxenye eyodwa yomhlaba ingadlulisi ukukhanya kwenye ingxenye; kodwa iGlobe elikhanyayo elifanayo liyakudlulisa ngqo emhlabeni wonke. UKristu, ukuphuma kwelanga okusuka phezulu, ophakanyisiwe ngokungenamkhawulo ngaphezu kwabantu bonke, wayengumlilo ongcwele ngesikhathi sokuvuselelwa, njengasekusungulweni kobuKristu, owawunika umhlaba ukuphila. Ekhulwini le-16, imfundiso eyodwa efanayo yasungulwa ngasikhathi sinye emakhaya nasemabandleni ezizwe ezikude nezihlukahlukene. Isizathu ukuthi uMoya ofanayo wayesebenza yonke indawo ekudaleni ukholo olufanayo.

GSAM 99.4“Ukuvuselelwa kwezenkolo eJalimane nalokho eSwitzerland kubonisa leli qiniso. UZwingle wayengaxhumani noLuther. Kwakukhona, ngokungangabazeki, isixhumanisi phakathi kwalezi zindoda ezimbili; kodwa kumele sisifune ngaphezu komhlaba. Lowo owanika uLuther iqiniso evela ezulwini, walinika noZwingle. UNkulunkulu wayengumthombo wokuxhumana phakathi kwabo. ‘Ngase ngiqala ukushumayela ivangeli,’ kusho uZwingle, ‘ngonyaka womusa ka-1516, ngamanye amazwi, ngesikhathi igama likaLuther lingakaze lizwakale ezweni lethu. Angizange ngifunde imfundiso kaKristu kuLuther, kodwa ezwini likaNkulunkulu. Uma uLuther eshumayela uKristu, wenza engikwenzayo; yilokho kuphela.’”⁶

GSAM 100.1Uma ekhuluma ngomsebenzi kaFarel noLefèvre eFrance, umbhali womlando uthi:—

GSAM 100.2“Ngakho-ke, ukuvuselelwa eFrance kwakungeyona into engeniswe ngaphandle. Kwazalwa emhlabathini waseFrance; kwakhula eParis; kwaba nezimpande zayo zokuqala enyuvesi uqobo, eyayingamandla esibili ebuKristu baseRoma. UNkulunkulu wabeka izimiso zomsebenzi ezinhliziyweni ezinobuqotho zabantu basePicardy naseDauphiny ngaphambi kokuba ziqale kunoma yiliphi elinye izwe.

GSAM 100.3“Sesibonile ukuthi ukuvuselelwa kwenkolo eSwitzerland bekuzimele ekuvuselelweni kwenkolo eJalimane. Ukuvuselelwa kwenkolo eFrance nakho kwakuzimele kuzo zombili. Lo msebenzi waqala ngasikhathi sinye kulezi zizwe ezahlukene, ngaphandle kokuxhumana phakathi kwazo; njengasempi, wonke amabutho ahlukene aqoqa ibutho ahamba ngasikhathi sinye, nakuba elinye lingatsheli elinye ukuthi lihambe, ngoba umyalo owodwa ofanayo, ophuma kuMphathi-Jikelele ofanayo, uzwakala kubo bonke. Isikhathi sasifikile, abantu babelungele, uNkulunkulu waqala ukuvuselelwa kwebandla lakhe kuzo zonke izizwe ngasikhathi sinye. Lezi zimo zibonisa ukuthi ukuvuselelwa okukhulu kwekhulu le-16 kwakungumsebenzi kaNkulunkulu.”⁷

GSAM 100.4Mayelana nokuvuselelwa eNgilandi, ngaphansi kukaThos. Bilney, Fryth, Tyndale nabanye, uD'Aubigné uphinde wathi:—

GSAM 100.5“Ngakho-ke ukuvuselelwa kwenkolo eNgilandi kwaqala ngokuzimela kuLuther noZwingle, isekelwe kuphela kuNkulunkulu. Kwakukhona kuzo zonke izizwe zobuKristu ukusebenza ngasikhathi sinye kwezwi likaNkulunkulu. Ukuqala kokuvuselelwa kwenkolo e-Oxford, eCambridge, naseLondon kwaba yiTestamente Elisha lesiGreki elashicilelwa nguErasmus. [UTyndale noThomas Bilney bashiya iCambridge ngonyaka ka-1519.] Kwafika usuku lapho iNgilandi yazigqaja ngalesi simvelaphi esiphakeme sokuvuselelwa kwenkolo.”⁸

GSAM 101.1Isimemezelo sokufika savela ngendlela efanayo naleyo echazwe ngenhla ekuvuseleleni. Abantu bavuselelwa ngasikhathi sinye ezingxenyeni zomhlaba ezingaphezu kokuphindwe kane kwalezo, bengazi futhi bengaxhumani ngemibono, baqala ukumemezela amaqiniso afanayo eBhayibhelini, hhayi emazweni amane kuphela emhlabeni, kodwa emhlabeni wonke osuthuthukile.

GSAM 101Imisebenzi kaJoseph Wolff

GSAM 101.2Kungaba kuhle kuleli phuzu ukuqaphela amaqiniso mayelana nobubanzi bokumemezela ukuza:—

GSAM 101.3“Ngo-1831 uJoseph Wolff, D.D., wathunyelwa njengomishinari evela eBrithani ukuze asebenze phakathi kwamaJuda asePalestina. Yena, ngokwezincwadi zakhe zokuhamba, kuze kube ngonyaka ka-1845, wamemezela ukufika okusheshayo kweNkosi ePalestina, eGibhithe, ogwini loLwandle Olubomvu, eMesopotamiya, eCrimea, ePheresiya, eJojiya, kuwo wonke uMbuso wama-Ottoman, eGrisi, e-Arabia, eTurkey, eBokhara, e-Afghanistan, eCashmere, eHindostan, eTibet, eHolland, eScotland, e-Ireland, eConstantinople, eJerusalema, eSt. Helena, nasemikhunjini eMediterranean, naseNew York City, kuwo wonke amaqembu enkolo. Uthi useshumayele phakathi kwamaJuda, amaTurki, amaSulumane, amaParse, amaHindu, amaKhaldeya, amaYezidi, amaSiriya, amaSabiya, kwama-pashas, kwama-sheiks, kwama-shahs, emakhosini ase-Organtsh nawaseBokhara, enkosikazini yaseGrisi, njll.”⁹

GSAM 101.4E-Yemen, esifundeni lapho kuhlala khona izizukulwane zikaHobhab, uyise ngomshado kaMose, uJoseph Wolff wabona incwadi ayikhuluma ngayo kanje: “Ama-Arabhu ale ndawo anencwadi ebizwa ngokuthi ‘Seera,’ ekhuluma ‘Ngokubuya Kwesibili kukaKristu, Nobukhosi Bakhe Obuzukile!’”¹⁰

GSAM 102.1E-Yemen wachitha izinsuku eziyisithupha nabakwaRechab, ngabo uthi: “Abaphuzi iwayini, abatshali amadiliya, abatshali imbewu, bahlala emathendeni, futhi bakhumbula amazwi kaJonadab indodana kaRechab. Nabo kwakukhona izingane zaka-Israyeli, zesizwe sikaDan, ezihlala eduze kweTerim eHatramawt, ezilindele, kanye nezingane zikaRechab, ukufika okusheshayo kukaMesiya emafini ezulwini.”

GSAM 102.2Sibona, ngokwezokungenhla, ukuthi kule minyaka eyishumi nane, uWolff uqobo wamemezela izindaba zokufika kukaKristu eminyango, emazweni angaphezu kwamashumi amabili ahlukene. Ngaleso sikhathi, imfundiso yayixoxwa kabanzi eJalimane, ikakhulukazi eNingizimu phakathi kwamaMoraviya.

GSAM 102Umyalezo eJalimane naseRussia

GSAM 102.3Umbhali waseNgilandi, uMourant Brock, usazisa ukuthi “eWürttemberg kwakukhona ikoloni yamaKristu eyayinabantu abangamakhulu, eyayilindele ukufika okusheshayo kukaKristu.” Lesi sifundiso samemezelwa kwezinye izingxenye zaseJalimane nguHengstenberg, ngaleso sikhathi owayebhekwa njengengcweti kwezinkolo enekhono kakhulu eJalimane.

GSAM 102.4Ku-Review and Herald, Disemba 13, 1892, uMfundisi L. R. Conradi waseJalimane uthi:—

GSAM 102.5“UBengel, eJalimane, wavusa uthando lokubonakala kweNkosi yethu ezinhliziyweni eziningi, okwaholela izinkulungwane ekutadisheni izwi lobuprofethi ngendlela engakaze ibe khona.... Ukukhanya kwakhanya eJalimane, kwashicilelwa izincwadi ezibonisa ukusetshenziswa kwezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu, zasakazwa lapho. Kwalandela ukuvuka kokholo, ikakhulukazi eWürttemberg, futhi njengoba ukuhlukunyezwa kwaqala, amakhulu emindeni aye eNingizimu Russia, lapho bakusabalalisa khona phakathi kwabantu bakubo ababehambile khona eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambilini. Lapho abefundisi bevala amabandla abo, ngaphandle kwezimo ezimbalwa kakhulu babehlela ‘stunden’ yabo, noma ‘ihora’ yezingqungquthela, ezindlini zabucala, futhi amakhulu abantu baguquka. Ngisho nangaleso sikhathi iSabatha yayixoxwa phakathi kwabo, kodwa njengoba kungekho owenza ukuqala, yacinywa. Umlimi waseRussia waguquka e‘stunden,’ wabe eseqala umsebenzi ofanayo phakathi kwamaRussia. Lokhu ekugcineni kwaholela emkhankasweni omkhulu wama-‘Stundist’ wanamuhla, onethonya elifinyelela ezindaweni ezikude kakhulu zaseSiberia naseTrans-Caucasus.”

GSAM 103.1Ku-Review and Herald, mhlaka 31 Julayi 1891, kukhona isitatimende sikaMfundisi Conradi mayelana noMfowethu Schäche wase-Australia, owayehlala eSilesia ngaleso sikhathi ayekhuluma ngaso, futhi owayesebenza ingxenye yesikhathi emsebenzini womishini yasekhaya kaBaba Gosner, ongumshumayeli odumile waseJalimane. KuMfowethu Schäche unikeza okulandelayo mayelana nencwadi kaKelber:—

GSAM 103.2“Ngemva kuka-1836, noma lapho isikhathi esasibalwe nguBengel sesiphelile, kwavela ephephandabeni lesifunda saseSchweidnitz isaziso esivela esitolo sezincwadi sikaMnu. Sommerfeldt, mayelana nencwadi kaL. Henry Kelber, echaza izenzakalo ezinkulu nezijabulisayo ezazizokwenzeka eminyakeni ka-1843 no-1844. Isihloko esinembile sale ncwadi angisakhumbuli. Sathola le ncwadi, sayifunda nabantu abaningi abanentshisekelo, iminyango ikhiyiwe, ngonyaka ka-1839–40. Incwadi iveza ukuthi isiphetho sesondele ngokususelwa kuDaniyeli, ku-IsAmbulo, naseMathewu 24, futhi yayine-ithebula lokubala elibonisa ukuthi lezo zinsuku zafinyelelwa kanjani.”

GSAM 103Umyalezo eBrithani Elikhulu

GSAM 103.3Esinye isishicilelo sesiNgisi esibizwa ngokuthi The Millennium sithi “abashumayeli abangamakhulu ayisikhombisa beBandla laseNgilandi babememezela ukubuya koMsindisi.” Phakathi kwabanye babashumayeli abanekhono kakhulu ngaleso sikhathi kwakukhona labo abamemezela imfundiso yokufika kukaKristu eNgilandi kusukela ngo-1840 kuya ku-1844. Kulabo sizokhuluma ngamagama kaBickersteth, Birks, Brooks, Brock, Habershon, Plyn, Fremantle, Nathan Lord, McNeil, Winters, Cummings, J. A. McCaul, D.D., Dr. Nisbett, Rev. A. Dallas, M.A. [encwadini yakhe ethi Look to Jerusalem, ekhasini 114, usebenzisa isifaniso sikaMathewu 24 kulesi sizukulwane], Burgess, Routon, Gunner, Barker, Bonham, Dealtry, njll.

GSAM 104Umyalezo eHolland

GSAM 104.1Imfundiso yokubuya kwesibili kwabhengezwa eHolland nguHentzepeter, owayebhekwa ngaleso sikhathi njengomshumayeli onekhono kunabo bonke kulelo zwe. Wayengumgcini weRoyal Museum eThe Hague, eqokwe yinkosi. Uthi ngaye, encwadini ayibhalele umhleli weMidnight Cry ngoJuni 1844, ukuthi ukunaka kwakhe kwaqala ukubhekiselwa kulesi sihloko ngephupho elimangalisayo. Wacwaninga imiBhalo ngalolu daba, kwathi ngonyaka ka-1830 washicilela incwajana echaza lesi sifundo. Ngo-1841 washicilela enye incwajana mayelana nokuphela komhlaba. Kule ncwadi efanayo uthi ulwazi lokuqala alwamukelayo mayelana noWilliam Miller nabanye ababememezela esidlangalaleni imfundiso yokusondela kukaKristu kwaba ngo-1842, ngokuxoxa nendoda eyayifika eHolland ivela eMelika.

GSAM 104Umyalezo eTartary

GSAM 104.2Sekusukela ngo-1821 kwakukholelwa futhi kwafundiswa imfundiso yokufika kweNkosi eTartary. Ngaleso sikhathi umishinari wase-Ireland wathunyelwa kulelo zwe, kwathi umpristi wamaTatar wambuza, “UKristu uzobuya nini okwesibili?” Waphendula wathi akazi lutho ngalokho, lapho umpristi wamangala kakhulu ngempendulo enjalo evela kumishinari owabe eze ukuzofundisa izimfundiso zeBhayibheli, waphawula wathi wayecabanga ukuthi “wonke umuntu onebhayibheli angakwazi lokho.” Umpristi wabe esethula imibono yakhe, ethi wayecabanga ukuthi uKristu wayezofika cishe ngonyaka ka-1844 AD. Leli qiniso litholakala ku-Irish Magazine, 1821.

GSAM 104Umyalezo eMelika, eNdiya, nasemazweni aseYurophu

GSAM 104.3Ku-Advent Tracts, ivolumu 2, ikhasi 135, ngo-1844, uMourant Brock waseNgilandi uthi:—

GSAM 105.1“Akukhona eBrithani Elikhulu kuphela lapho kulindelwe ukubuya okuseduze komhlanguli, futhi lapho izwi lokuxwayisa liphakanyiswa, kodwa naseMelika, eNdiya, nasekontinentini yaseYurophu. EMelika, cishe abashumayeli bezwi abangamakhulu amathathu bayashumayela ‘leli vangeli lombuso;’ kanti kuleli, cishe abangamakhulu ayisikhombisa beBandla laseNgilandi baphakamisa isimemezelo esifanayo.”

GSAM 105Kuzo Zonke Izikhumulo Zolwandle Emhlabeni

GSAM 105.2U-E. R. Pinney, waseSeneca Falls, eNew York, umshumayeli ozinikele wamaBaptisti onikele ngempilo yakhe ekushumayeleni imfundiso yokubuya kukaKristu, encwadini yakhe ethi Exposition of Matthew 24, kumakhasi 8 no-9, wathi:—

GSAM 105.3“Ngisho kusukela ngo-1842, izincwadi zokufika kwesibili kwakade zithunyelwe kuzo zonke iziteshi zamamishinari eYurophu, e-Asia, e-Afrika, naseMelika, emaceleni womabili eRocky Mountains.... Abaphathi bezikebhe zethu namatilosi bathi abafiki edokisini lapho lokhu kumemezela kungakabafiki khona kuqala, futhi bavame ukubuzwa ngakho.”

GSAM 105Abantu Abayizinkulungwane Ezintathu Abamemezela Umyalezo

GSAM 105.4UMfundisi G. W. Mitchel, waseZanesville, e-Ohio, omunye umshumayeli owamemezela yena le mfundiso, watshela umbhali engxoxweni eNewark, e-Ohio, Agasti 8, 1894, ukuthi uMfundisi William Miller wamtshela, engxoxweni eMcConnellsville, e-Ohio, ngoSepthemba, 1844, ukuthi “wayenamagama nezindawo zokuhlala zabashumayeli abayizinkulungwane ezintathu ezingxenyeni ezahlukene zomhlaba ababememezela, ‘Yesabani uNkulunkulu, nimnike udumo; ngokuba isikhathi sokwahlulela kwakhe sesifikile,’ iningi labo liseNyakatho Melika naseBrithani Elikhulu.”

GSAM 105.5UWilliam Miller, ekhuluma ngokusabalala okubanzi kwalokhu “kukhala,” wathi:—

GSAM 105.6“Omunye noma ababili kuyo yonke ingxenye yomhlaba basakaze lezi zindaba, futhi bonke bavumelana ngalesi sikhathi,—uWolff wase-Asia; u-Irving, owake waseNgilandi; uMason waseScotland; uDavis waseSouth Carolina; kanye nenqwaba yalapha kulesi sifunda, bayakwenza, noma sebekwenzile, ukumemezela lokhu kubiza.”¹¹

GSAM 106I-Voice of Elijah kaHutchinson Ethunyelwe Kude

GSAM 106.1UMfundisi uR. Hutchinson, ngo-1837, wathunyelwa esuka eNgilandi eya eCanada njengomishinari wamaWesleyan. Ekugcineni wahlala eMontreal. Wayenabantu abaningi abamazi emazweni angaphandle. Eminyakeni ka-1843 no-1844 washicilela iphephandaba elibizwa ngeVoice of Elijah, lapho ayekhuluma ngemfundiso yokufika kukaJesu. Njengoba ayenokufinyelela kalula ezikebheni ezaya kwamanye amazwe, futhi enelungelo lokuthumela izingxenye ezinkulu zamaphepha akhe ngaphandle kwezindleko zeposi, wazithumela ngobuningi kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba. Wathi ngomsebenzi wakhe, ukuthi wazithumela ngokukhululekile eNova Scotia, eNew Brunswick, eNewfoundland, eNgilandi, e-Ireland, eScotland, eWales, eFrance, eJalimane, eConstantinople, eRoma, nakuzo zonke izingxenye zombuso wamaBrithani nezikoloni zawo.

GSAM 106Eziqhingini zaseSandwich

GSAM 106.2Ku-Midnight Cry yango-12 Okthoba 1843, kwakukhona incwadi evela kuNkk. O. S. Burnham, waseKaloa, esiQhingini saseKaui, eziQhingini zaseSandwich. Yena nomyeni wakhe babe ngothisha besikole kuleyo ndawo. Bamukela futhi babememezela imfundiso yokufika kwesibili kukaKristu lapho, futhi iqembu labakholwa lalikhuleka nabo eziqhingini.

GSAM 106Umyalezo Uqhathaniswa Nalowo KaJohane Umbhapathizi

GSAM 106.3Ngakho-ke siyabona ukuthi imfundiso yokufika kwakhe yamemezelwa ngokwanele ukuze kugcwaliswe iziprofetho zemiBhalo mayelana nayo.

GSAM 106.4Umyalezo owawuzokwazisa ukuza kokuqala kukaKristu wawusho ngomprofethi Isaya ngalezi zisho: “Izwi lomuntu omemezelayo ehlane, Lungisani indlela yeNkosi, yenzelani uNkulunkulu wethu umgwaqo omkhulu oqondile ehlane. Yonke imigodi izophakanyiswa, zonke izintaba namagquma kuzokwehliswa; izigobe zizolungiswa, izindawo ezirhabaxa zibe bushelelezi; kuyavezwe udumo lukaJehova, yonke inyama izokubona ndawonye; ngokuba umlomo kaJehova ukhulume.”¹² Lesi siprofetho sagcwaliswa emsebenzini “kaJohane uMbhapathizi, efundisa ezindaweni zasendle zaseJuda, ethi, Phendukani; ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususeduze.”¹³

GSAM 107.1Lo muntu yedwa, phakathi nezinyanga eziyisithupha zokusebenza ezweni elilodwa laseJudea, wafeza lesi sibikezelo esimangalisayo. Nakuba lesi siprofetho sasibeka imingcele emsebenzini kaJohane ngokwezikhathi nangendawo, akunjalo ngezo ziprofetho eziphathelene nokumemezela ukuza kwesibili, ngoba umsebenzi wawuzoba “ngokukhala okukhulu,” futhi wawuzofinyelela emhlabeni wonke.

GSAM 107.2Ngakho-ke kubonakala, ekukhanyeni kweqiniso elethulwe, ukuthi isiprofetho esiphathelene nomyalezo wokufika kwakugcwaliswa ngokunembile kangakanani. Isikhathi sikaNkulunkulu safika sokufundiswa kwesifaniso somuthi wefigi, sokunikwa kokokuqala isimemezelo somyalezo wengelosi yokuqala, futhi wavusa izithunywa zakhe ukuba zimemezele isimemezelo kuwo wonke amazwe, abantu, nezilimi.