To The Word – Day 211

₁Nasi isityhilelo esaboniswa uYesu Krestu nguThixo. Wasiboniswa khon' ukuze yena abonise izicaka zakhe izinto eziza kuhla kamsinya. Esi sityhilelo uYesu wasithumela ngesithunywa sezulu kwisicaka sakhe uYohane. ₂Yena ke uYohane wayibhala wayixela yonke into awayibonayo. Ngoku ke uchaza udaba lukaThixo olo walutyhilelwa nguYesu Krestu. ₃Unoyolo kambe umntu owafundayo amazwi olu daba, benoyolo nâbo bawaphulaphula bawathathele ingqalelo. Kaloku ixesha lokuzalisekiswa kwawo lisemnyango.

₄Mna Yohane ndibhalela amabandla asixhenxe akwiphondo laseAsiya, ndisithi: Kuwo makube sisisa noxolo oluvela kuNdikhoyo, lowo wayekho, oya kusoloko ekho; nakubo ooMoya abasixhenxe abaphambi kwakhe ebhotwe; ₅ngokunjalo nakuYesu Krestu, olingqina elithembekileyo, inkulu yâbo bavuka bebefile, nomlawuli wezikumkani zehlabathi. Kaloku yena lowo usithandayo, ngokuphalala kwegazi lakhe, usikhulule ezonweni zethu. ₆Ewe, yena usenze ababingeleli basebhotwe ukuze sikhonze uThixo uYise. Mabube kuye ke ubungangamsha nolawulo nanini-nanini! *Amen.

₇Khawukhangele, nanko esiza ekhatshwa ngamafu! Lonke uluntu luya kumbona, nkqu nabo bâmhlabáyo. Ewe, zonke izizwe ziya kungqukruleka zizisola. Injalo ke loo nto! Amen.

₈“Ndim isiqalo nesiphelo,” itsho iNkosi uThixo, uSomandla, uNdikhoyo, owayekho, lowo uya kusoloko ekho.

₉NdinguYohane umwenu onenxaxheba ebunzimeni, kunyamezelo, nasekulawulweni – zinto ezo zisibandakanyayo thina bamanyiweyo noYesu. Ke kaloku ndazibona sendisesiqithini sePatimo ngenxa yokushumayela ilizwi likaThixo nokungqina ngoYesu. ₁₀Kwathi ngomhla weCawe ndaba semandleni kaMoya, ndaza ndeva ilizwi lihlokoma ngathi lixilongo emva kwam. ₁₁Lenjenje ukuthetha: “Ezi zinto uzibonayo zibhale encwadini, uzithumele kula mabandla osixhenxe: e-Efese, eSmirna, ePergamo, eTiyatire, eSardes, eFiladelfiya, naseLawodike.”

₁₂Ndakhangela ngasemva, ndifuna ukuqonda ukuba ngaba lalilelikabani na eli lizwi ndandiliva lithetha nam. Ndithe ndakubheka, ndabona kumi izibane ezisixhenxe zegolide. ₁₃Phakathi kwazo kwakukho into engathi ngumntu, itsho ngezivatho ezaziye kuthi xhaxhe ezinyaweni, ithe thande ibhanti yegolide esifubeni. ₁₄Iinwele zayo zazimhlophe okwekhephu, itsho ngamehlo abukhali, alenya okwamadangatye omlilo. ₁₅Yayineenyawo ezibengezela okobhedu olugudisiweyo, ilizwi layo livakala ngathi sisandi samanzi engxangxasi. ₁₆Yayiphethe iinkwenkwezi ezisixhenxe ngesandla sokunene, emlonyeni kuphuma ikrele elibukhali, libazwe macala, ubuso bayo buqaqamba njengelanga mhla ligqats' ubhobhoyi.

₁₇Ndithe ke ndakumbona, ndajuba ezinyaweni zakhe, ndanjengofileyo. Ke yena wasibeka phezu kwam isandla sakhe sokunene, wathi: “Musa ukoyika. Mna ndingowokuqala, ndikwangowokugqibela. ₁₈Ndingohleliyo. Ndandifile. Kodwa khangela ndim lo ndikho, kuya kude kube nini-nini. Ukufa ndiyakulawula; kwanelabafileyo ndiyalilawula. ₁₉Ngoko ke zibhale ezo zinto uzibone zisenzeka, kwanezo zenzekayo, neziya kuhla. ₂₀Nantsi ke ingcaciso yento ethethwa ziinkwenkwezi ezisixhenxe ezisesandleni sam sokunene, kwanezibane ezisixhenxe zegolide: Iinkwenkwezi ezisixhenxe ngabameli bamabandla asixhenxe. Izibane ezisixhenxe zona ngamabandla lawo.”

₁“Bhalela ummeli webandla lase-Efese, uthi: ‘Nanga amazwi avela kulowo uphethe iinkwenkwezi ezisixhenxe ngesandla sokunene, ujikeleza phakathi kwezibane ezisixhenxe zegolide. ₂Ndiyayazi indlela obusebenza ngayo ubulaleka, unenyameko. Ndiyazi ukuba akubanyamezeli abantu abakhohlakeleyo. Ubavavanyile abo babesithi *bangabathunywa bengengabo, wabafumanisa bengamaxoki. ₃Ubunzima ubuthwele ngenyameko ngenxa yam, akoyiswa. ₄Kodwa ke nantsi indawo ngakuwe: Akusandithandi njengoko wawundithanda ekuqaleni. ₅Khawukhumbule indlela owawa bhaxa ngayo. Yahlukana nezono; qhuba ngendlela obuhamba ngayo ekuqaleni. Ukuba akuguquki, ndiya kuza ndisisuse isibane sakho endaweni yaso. ₆Kambe ke nantsi indawo ekuthethelelayo: Imikhwa yamaNikolawo uyithiyile kanye njengam.

₇“ ‘Lowo uneendlebe zokuva makaluve udaba oluthethwa nguMoya ebandleni!

“ ‘Lowo woyisileyo ndomnika ilungelo lokutya kumthi wobomi osemyezweni kaThixo.’ ”

₈“Bhalela ummeli webandla laseSmirna, uthi: ‘Nanga amazwi alowo ungowokuqala ukwangowokugqibela, owayefile wabuya wavuka: ₉Ndiyayazi indlela ebenicinezeleke ngayo, nihlwempuzekile. Kodwa nizizityebi phezu koko. Ndiyayazi indlela ebenenyeliswa ngayo ngabo bazenza amaJuda – baligquba likaSathana! ₁₀Nize ningayoyiki intshutshiso ezayo. Abanye benu umtyholi uza kubaphosa entolongweni, enivavanya. Nophatheka nzima iintsuku ezilishumi. Nize ninyaniseke kude kuse ekufeni. Ndonithwesa imbasa yobomi.

₁₁“ ‘Lowo uneendlebe zokuva makaluve udaba oluthethwa nguMoya ebandleni!

“ ‘Lowo woyisileyo akanako ukwenziwa nto kukufa kwesibini.’ ”

₁₂“Bhalela ummeli webandla lasePergama, uthi: ‘Olu daba luvela kulowo unekrele elibukhali elibaze macala. ₁₃Ndiyayazi le ndawo uhlala kuyo: Kusebhotwe kwaSathana! Kodwa nakuba kunjalo awundilahlanga. Awuzange utyhafe undikhanyele, nangethuba kwakubulawa ingqina lam elithembekileyo uAntipas, apho kuloo dolophu yakho ilikhaya likaSathana. ₁₄Kambe ke ndineendawana ezingandikholisiyo apha kuwe: Kwalapho kuwe bakho abasabambelele kwimfundiso kaBhalam. Kaloku yena ngulowa wafundisa uBhalaki ukulukuhla amaSirayeli. Wawakhuthaza ukuba atye ukutya okwenzelwe izithixo, arheletye. ₁₅Ngokukwanjalo ke nalapho kuni bakho ababambelele kwimfundiso yamaNikolawo. ₁₆Ngoko ke guquka, kungenjalo abo bantu ndiya kubahlasela ngekrele lomlomo.

₁₇“ ‘Lowo uneendlebe zokuva makaluve udaba oluthethwa nguMoya ebandleni!

“ ‘Lowo woyisileyo ndiya kumpha *imana efihliweyo. Ndiya kumnika nelitye elimhlophe apho kukrolwe igama elitsha elingaziwa mntu ngaphandle kwalowo lilelakhe.’ ”

₁₈“Bhalela ummeli webandla laseTiyatire, uthi: ‘Nalu udaba oluvela kuNyana kaThixo, yena unamehlo alenya ngathi ngamadangatye omlilo, onyawo zimenyezela ngathi lubhedu olugudisiweyo. ₁₉Ndiyasazi isimo sakho: unothando; uthembekile, ukhuthele, unomonde. Futhi ndiyaqonda ukuba ngoku uthath' unyawo kunakuqala. ₂₀Kambe ke ndinendawo ngakuwe: Kaloku awumchasi uJezebhele, intokazi ethi *ingumshumayeli. Ngemfundiso yakhe izicaka zam uziwexulela ekurheletyeni nasekutyeni ukutya okwenzelwe izithixo. ₂₁Nakuba ndimnikile ithuba lokuguquka ezonweni zakhe, akazimiselanga ukwahlukana nokurheletya. ₂₂Ngoku ke ndiya kumphosa emandlalweni apho aya kuthi yena kunye nabo arheletya nabo bangcungcutheke. Le nto ndiza kuyenza; ngaphandle kokuba bangaguquka kule nkohlakalo bayenza kunye naye. ₂₃Ndiya kubabulala abalandeli bakhe. Onke amabandla aya kuqonda ukuba mna ndiyazazi iingcinga neenjongo zabantu. Umntu ngamnye ndiya kumamkelisa ngokwezenzo zakhe.

₂₄“ ‘Kodwa ke abanye benu apha eTiyatire khange bayingene le mfundiso. Aninamava ngale nto abanye bathi yimfihlelo kaSathana. Nina andiyi kunibeka xanduva lumbi. ₂₅Kambe ke namathelani kuloo nto ninayo ndide ndifike. ₂₆Lowo woyisileyo, ewe, onyamezeleyo ekwenzeni ukuthanda kwam kwada kwasesiphelweni, ndiya kumnika amagunya phezu kwezizwe. ₂₇Uya kuzilawula ngentonga yentsimbi izizwe, azintlekeze njengezitya zodongwe. ₂₈Loo magunya ndawathatha kuBawo. Nam ke ndiya kumnika ikhwezi lokusa.

₂₉“ ‘Lowo uneendlebe zokuva makaluve udaba oluthethwa nguMoya ebandleni!’ ”

₁“Bhalela ummeli webandla laseSardes, uthi: ‘Nanga amazwi avela kulowo uphethe ooMoya abasixhenxe bakaThixo, neenkwenkwezi ezisixhenxe: Ndiyazazi iindlela zakho. Ndiyazi ukuba nakuba udume ngokuphila nje, ufile kodwa. ₂Vuka, uhlaziye loo ntlantsana isahleliyo, hleze ife nayo! Akukho namnye umsebenzi wakho endiwufumene ugqibekile phambi kukaThixo. ₃Ngoko ke khumbula iimfundiso ozifumeneyo; zilandele, uguquke. Ukuba akuvuki, ndofika njengesela – akuyi kwazi nokuba bendifike nini na. ₄Phofu unabantu abambalwa eSardes abangazingcolisanga bona izambatho zabo. Bohamba bevathe ezimhlophe kunye nam, yaye ibafanele loo nto. ₅Lowo woyisileyo wovatha ezimhlophe. Andisoze ndilicime igama lakhe kuludwe lwamagama abo baphilayo. Kaloku ndiya kumvuma ukuba ungowam phambi kukaBawo nezithunywa zakhe.

₆“ ‘Lowo uneendlebe zokuva makaluve udaba oluthethwa nguMoya ebandleni!’ ”

₇“Bhalela ummeli webandla laseFiladelfiya, uthi: ‘Nanga amazwi avela kulowo uyingcwele, ungowenene, uphethe izitshixo zakwaDavide; lowo uthi akuvula kungavali bani, athi akuvala kungavuli mntu. ₈Ndiyazazi iindlela zakho. Khangela ndibeke ucango oluvuliweyo phambi kwakho. Akukho bani unako ukuluvala. Ndiyazi ukuba amandlana onawo akangako, kodwa ulithobele ilizwi lam, àkwandikhanyela. ₉Ndiya kwenza le nto ke: Abo baligquba likaSathana, amamenemene azenza amaJuda engengawo, ndiya kubathoba, bakhahlele kuwe, bazi ukuba ndiyakuthanda. ₁₀Ke ngenxa yokuba uzingisile ekulithobeleni ilizwi lam elikubizela ekunyamezeleni, ndiza kukuhlangula kwishwangusha eliza ehlabathini lize kulinga bonke abantu. ₁₁Ndiyeza kwakamsinya. Yilondoloze imbo yakho. Lumka hleze ixhwilwe imbasa yakho. ₁₂Lowo woyisayo ndiya kumenza intsika yendlu kaThixo wam, angaze ahlukane nayo. Ndiya kulibhala kuye igama likaThixo wam negama lesixeko sikaThixo wam. Ewe, ndixela iJerusalem entsha, leyo izayo, iphuma ezulwini kuThixo wam. Ngokunjalo ndiya kulibhala kuye negama lam elitsha.

₁₃“ ‘Lowo uneendlebe zokuva makaluve udaba oluthethwa nguMoya ebandleni!’ ”

₁₄“Bhalela ummeli webandla laseLawodike, uthi: ‘Nalu udaba oluvela *kuAmen, olingqina elithembekileyo nelinyanisekileyo. Yena ngumthombo wayo yonke indalo kaThixo. ₁₅Ndiyasazi isimo sakho: Awubandi, awushushu. Akwaba ubushushu okanye ubanda! ₁₆Kodwa ke ngenxa yokuba udikidiki, ungeshushu ungabandi, ndiza kukutshica. ₁₇Uzingca ngokuba usisityebi, umi kakuhle. Uthi awuswele nto. Enyanisweni nakuba ungaqondi nje ungowokusizelwa, impula kalujaca, kuba ulihlwempu, imfama, uzé. ₁₈Ngoko ke ndikucebisa ukuba uthenge kum igolide enyityilikiswe ngomlilo yacwenga, ukuze ube sisityebi. Ngokunjalo thenga neempahla ezimhlophe, ukuze ubufihle ubuze bakho. Thenga nentambiso, uqabe amehlo akho, khon' ukuze ubone. ₁₉Abo ndibathandayo ndiyabakhalimela ndibohlwaye. Ngoko ke zimisele, uguquke. ₂₀Uyabona, ndimi emnyango ndinkqonkqoza. Ukuba umntu uyeva aze avule, ndiya kungena ndihlale naye, sitye kunye. ₂₁Lowo woyisileyo uya kuba nenxaxheba ebhotwe. Kaloku nam ndoyisa ndaza ndafumana inxaxheba yokungqendeva noBawo ebhotwe.

₂₂“ ‘Lowo uneendlebe zokuva makaluve udaba oluthethwa nguMoya ebandleni.’ ”

₁Emva koko ndabona izulu livulekile phambi kwam. Ndeva eliya lizwi bendilive lithetha nam, lihlokoma okwexilongo lisithi kum: “Yiza ngapha ndikubonise izinto ezimelwe kukwenzeka emva kwezi.” ₂Ngoko nangoko ndaba semandleni kaMoya. Ndabona apho ezulwini kukho isihlalo sobukhosi. ₃Kwakuhleli kuso ingangalala ekhazimla okwamatye exabiso, akudidi loozidayimani ngokumenyezela, ekuthiwa yijaspa nekorneli ukubizwa kwawo. Isihlalo eso sasinesangqa somnyama owawubengezela nawo oku kwelitye lexabiso eliluhlaza ekuthiwa yiemeraldi ukubizwa kwalo. ₄Kwakukho nezinye izihlalo zithe thande, zingqonge isihlalo sobukhosi, zingamashumi mabini anesine; kukho namadoda amakhulu angamashumi mabini anesine awayethe nqwadalala kwezo zihlalo. Ayethe wambu ezimhlophe iingubo, ethwele izithsaba zegolide. ₅Apho esihlalweni sobukhosi kwakutshawuza imibane, kugragrama iindudumo. Kwakukho nezibane ezisixhenxe ezivuthayo phambi kwaso, ezingooMoya abasixhenxe bakaThixo. ₆Kwakukho nento eyayingathi lulwandle lweglasi, ithe thebelele apho ngasesihlalweni, icwenge ngathi ngumkhenkce.

Esazulwini apho, kanye ngasesihlalweni, kwakuhleli izilwanyana ezine zinamehlo macala onke, zingqonge isihlalo eso kanye. ₇Isilwanyana sokuqala sasifana nengonyama. Esesibini sasinjengenkomo. Esesithathu sasifana nomntu, esesine sinjengokhozi luphaphazela. ₈Isilwanyana ngasinye sasinamaphiko amathandathu, sinamehlo ngapha nangapha. Zazidumisa zingayeki emini nasebusuku, zisithi:

₉Lo gama izilwanyana ezine zibongayo, zidumisa, zibulela kulowo unguSonini-nanini uhleli esihlalweni sokulawula, ₁₀wona amadoda amakhulu angamashumi amabini anesine ayekhahlela, enqula kulowo uhleli esihlalweni, unguSonini-nanini. Ayedanduluka, atsho azibeke nezithsaba zawo phambi kwengangalala, athi:

₁Ke kaloku ndabona kukho ohleli esihlalweni sokulawula, esandleni sakhe sokunene ephethe incwadi. Yona ke yayibhalwe macala, futhi iyincwadi enamacandelo asixhenxe. Icandelo ngalinye lalinophawu olugunyazisa ukuba yovulwa ngonelungelo kuphela. ₂Kananjalo ndabona ingwanyalala yesithunywa sezulu esakhwaza sabuza sathi: “Ngaba ngubani ofanelekileyo onokuluqhaqha uphawu, ayivule le ncwadi?” ₃Kambe ke zange afumaneke onako ukuyivula ayifunde, nditsho nasezulwini, emhlabeni, naphantsi komhlaba. ₄Kuthe kwakungafumaneki bani ukufaneleyo ukuyivula ayifunde incwadi leyo, zehl' iinyembezi kum. ₅Kodwa ke enye yamadoda amakhulu yandikhalimela yathi: “Musa ukulila. Kaloku iNgonyama yesizwe sikaJuda, umnombo kaDavide, igqwesile, ikufanele ukuluqhaqha uphawu ngalunye, iyivule incwadi.”

₆Ndaza ke ndabona iXhwane limi bhuxe esazulwini sebhotwe. Lalingqongwe zizilwanyana ezine, ngokunjalo nangamadoda amakhulu. IXhwane eli lalibonakala ngathi lagwintwa. Lalineempondo ezisixhenxe, namehlo asixhenxe, angooMoya abasixhenxe bakaThixo abathunyelwe ehlabathini liphela. ₇IXhwane eli laya kulowo wayehleli esihlalweni sokulawula, lafika layithatha incwadi leyo esandleni sakhe sokunene. ₈Lithe iXhwane lakuyithatha incwadi leyo, izilwanyana ezine ndawonye namashumi amabini anesine amadoda amakhulu, asuka ee guqaqa phambi kwalo. Indoda nganye yayinehapu nesitya segolide esizele ziziqhumiso eziyimithandazo yosapho lukaThixo. ₉Ayevuma ingoma entsha, esithi:

₁₁Kwakhona ndakhangela, ndabona izigidi ngezigidi namawaka-waka ezithunywa zezulu! Zazingqonge ibhotwe, nezilwanyana ezine, ngokunjalo namadoda amakhulu. ₁₂Zazidanduluka zicula zisithi:

₁₃Ke kaloku ndaziva izidalwa nayo yonke indalo, ezulwini nasemhlabeni, phantsi komhlaba naselwandle, zidanduluka zisithi:

₁Ndalibona ke iXhwane liqhaqha uphawu lokuqala lwaloo macandelo asixhenxe. Ngokunjalo ndasiva esinye sezilwanyana ezine sithetha ngelizwi elizongomayo, sisithi: “Yiz' apha!” ₂Kwaza kwathi gqi ihashe elimhlophe, ophezu kwalo ephethe utolo. Ke kaloku wathiwa jize ngesithsaba. Waphuma noloyiso, wahamba esenza iziqwenga, kuj' ubugodo konke apho ahamba khona.

₃Lithe iXhwane lakuqhaqha uphawu lwesibini, ndeva isilwanyana sesibini sisithi: “Yiz' apha!” ₄Kwathi gqi elinye ihashe, libomvu ngebala. Lowo wayephezu kwalo wanikwa ilungelo lokugxobha-gxobha inzolo ehlabathini liphela, khon' ukuze abantu bagebengane. Yena ke wanikwa ingxavula yekrele.

₅IXhwane lithe lisakuluqhaqha uphawu lwesithathu, ndeva isilwanyana sesithathu sisithi: “Yiz' apha!” Ndithe ndakukhangela ndabona ihashe elimnyama. Lowo wayekhwele kulo wayephethe isikali sokulinganisa, ngesandla. ₆Kananjalo ndeva isandi esingathi lilizwi, siphuma kweziya zilwanyana zine. Lathetha lathi: “Isitya sengqolowa singangomvuzo wemini enye; izitya ezithathu zamazimba zingangomvuzo wemini enye; kambe ke uze ungadlalisi ngawo amafutha ndawonye newayini.”

₇Kwakhona iXhwane laqhaqha uphawu lwesine, ndaza ndeva isilwanyana sesine sisithi: “Yiz' apha!” ₈Ndakukhangela ndabona elinye ihashe; lona lalimbatshile. Igama lalowo wayehleli phezu kwalo lalinguKufa, kanti ke ezinyaweni zakhe kwakulandela uLabafileyo. Banikwa amagunya phezu kwesiqingatha sesine sehlabathi, ukuze bageqe ngekrele, ngembalela, isibetho, nangamarhamncwa.

₉Ngokunjalo iXhwane laluqhaqha nolwesihlanu uphawu. Ngaphantsi kweqonga lamadini ndababona abo babebulewe ngenxa yokushumayela ilizwi likaThixo, nangenxa yokungqina. ₁₀Babhomboloza bathi: “Kakade ke, Nkosi, Somandla oyiNgcwele kanye, koda kube nini ungasiphindezeli ulibuyekeze igazi lethu elaphalazwa ngabantu beli hlabathi?” ₁₁Elowo nalowo kubo wathiwa wambu ngomnweba omhlophe. Ngokunjalo kwathiwa mabakhe balinde okwethutyana, bade baphelele abalingane namawabo asaza kubulawa kwanjengabo.

₁₂Ndalibona ke ngoku iXhwane liqhaqha uphawu lwesithandathu. Suka yazama-zamisa inyikima, ilanga lafaka ezokuzila lathi thsu, inyanga yona yajika yaligazi. ₁₃Iinkwenkwezi zona zavuthulukela emhlabeni, zaxel' amakhiwane egeqwa sisaqhwithi. ₁₄Sona isibhakabhaka saphel' emehlweni, kwaba ngathi kusongwa umqulu, zonke iintaba neziqithi zanqukrulwa. ₁₅Zasuka ke izikumkani zehlabathi, abasemagunyeni neengqwayi-ngqwayi zomkhosi, oozityebi nezinxiba-mxhaka, nalo lonke uluntu, oozicaka nabakhululekileyo, baya kuzímela emiqolombeni nasemiqhokrweni ezintabeni. ₁₆Badanduluka bebhekisa ezintabeni nasemaweni, bathi: “Siweleni, ukuze sifihlakale kulowo uhleli esihlalweni sokulawula nakwingqumbo yeXhwane! ₁₇Ewe, kaloku iMini yabo yokuphindezela igalelekile. Yaz'ba ngubani na ke onokusinda kuyo?”