One day when Shembe told the Nazarites about the beauty of heaven, he said: “My children, if I were to take you to heaven and back, and then say in order for you to return to heaven you should take a knife and cut your throat, you would not hesitate to do that so that you may return to heaven!”
1.Shabbat Shalom to the saints. The topic for this sermon is: “THE PLIGHT THAT MARKS LIFE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM.”
2.In the Book of Yahuchanan 5:28-29, Yeshua uttered these words: “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” – King James Version
3.We tend to explain that it was Yeshua who taught that that the saints enter the heavenly kingdom after death while others go to condemnation!
4.There are numerous dominions in the spiritual world, but here we are referring to the heavenly kingdom.
5.In the divine realm we do not dwell in accordance with earthly bloodlines as many would assume, but we dwell in line with works that we achieve whilst here on earth!
6.At our passing from this planet, we would go to a celestial domain that is aligned with our earthly deeds.
7.Whilst on earth, my entire life was dedicated to the service of Yahuah! At my death, it is Yahuah who will decide where He would like to place me, and that will be in accordance with judgement that I will receive!
8.The Judge will decide if I have been a person who deserved to enter the kingdom of heaven or if I should be resurrected to condemnation!
9.But if one had believed in other gods, at death they would just go to such gods! We do not know how one receives judgement from other gods.
10.We tend to explain that God’s existence on earth did not lead Him to explain everything; He left other information for future times!
11.During the times of Moshe, God said nothing about the heavenly kingdom as well as the judgement of a soul of the diseased.
12.We come across such a statement for the very first time in Mattithyahu 5:19 where Yeshua says: “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven!”
13.Having said all that, no heavenly messenger has ever clarified our posthumous journey as Prophet Isaiah Shembe did (peace be upon him)!
14.Among all the prophets of Yisra’el, including Yeshua, only one prophet has made us become aware of a route that we will follow after our death.
15. Today I wish to explain to the world that Shembe clearly articulated to us, Nazarites, how a journey to eternal, celestial world looks like. Therefore, we have no doubt concerning our souls’ destination after our demise in this world!
16.In one of his sermons, this is what the prophet said:
17.“I wish that you, all Nazarites, may no longer sin, that you may no longer violate Yahuah’s Law, the one I gave to you since I baptised you!”
18.Just as we always do within this assembly, Shembe confirms that the Nazarite faith is governed by Yahuah’s Law which he (Shembe) has taught us!
19.Shembe proceeds: “Do not allow yourselves to be confused anymore; where I am inviting you, my children, it is a very beautiful place. If I were to say you should go there, you would no longer agree to come back.”
20.One day when Shembe told the Nazarites about the beauty of heaven, he said: “My children, if I were to take you to heaven and back, and then say in order for you to return to heaven you should take a knife and cut your throat, you would not hesitate to do that so that you may return to heaven!”
21.The angel testified to this, saying the beauty that the prophet was referring to does, indeed, exist; no earthly beauty can be compared with that of heaven!
22.Proceeding, the prophet says: “Do tell the King when he has arrived that I said he should never forget to separate the ways that lead to where we are journeying; even when priests are ordained, this is what you must teach them.”
23.The prophet emphasised that even after his demise, when the Assembly is led by Lord Galilee Shembe, we should tell him what he said about a journey to heaven!
24.Thereafter, the prophet then predicted about massive apostasy that would finally sneak in within this Assembly; perhaps his prediction is already coming to pass!
25.He said that the Nazarites would gradually abandon Yahuah and create their own gods and heavens!
26.These are the words of the Lord: “There shall come a time when the people of eKuphakameni will abandon Shembe’s way, when they will just implement their own thoughts instead of the word that we, the Shembes, have offered them.
27.At that time they will be indifferent about the eternal land; they will put their hopes on numerous heavens which do not even exist!
28.In those days they drag their feet when it comes to observing Yahuah’s Law, the very Law THAT I HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED TO REVIVE. They will trample on it; they will ignore it in favour of their own laws and those of their gods which they will bring here.”
29.We do not know if the prophet’s prediction was indeed fulfilled; has our passion not gradually become lukewarm when it comes to observing Yahuah’s Law which SHEMBE WAS COMMISSIONED TO REVIVE?
30.We do not know if that time has finally come, a time when we are no longer passionate about the eternal land, only trusting in numerous heavens, which do not even exist, in the same pattern of the children of Yisra’el who venerated an idol whilst journeying with God!
31.You would not believe that a really sane people could do such a thing!
32.But did it; even today people worship an idol on account that they say it is God. Such an act is prevalent in many religious formations and denominations!
33.The prophet proceeds, saying: “Be perfect before Yahuah, for He loves those who love Him and prepares them a place before His royal throne,
34.He creates lack of hunger and thirst for them and even gives them His grace. Even they always glorify Him with drums and holy dance, singing with joy.”
35.In the above sermon extract Shembe is explaining to us that God always takes care of those who sincerely remain pious while they are on earth even in the next life!
36.If one wants to know how God takes care of His human being, they should read the story of the journey of the children Yisra’el from Kemet to the Land of Canaan.
37.They should consider how Yahuah combated Pharaoh on behalf of His nation and how Yahuah took care of His children for forty years.
38.They should count wars in which Yahuah prevailed on behalf of the children of Yisra’el!
39.The prophet proceeds: “God rejoices in them; the Saviours joy dwells with them forever, and they are no longer mortal.
40.Yahuah’s Law is the shelter for the soul, my children; not any law, but the one His servant has given to you.
41.It is a path that leads to where there is no darkness, hatred, famine and cold, but where there is only unfading glory.”
42.One simply does not know how to make people understand that Yahuah’s faith system is about keeping YAHUAH’S LAW WHICH HE BROUGHT DOWN THROUGH MOSHE!
43.There is no conveniently short route! If one does not live in accordance with Yahuah’s precepts, they should know that damnation is awaiting ahead of them!
44.I often think that one could do that only due to ignorance! Just as we often explain, nothing is as pleasant as journeying with God!
45.We spend most of our time with the angel, and that has made us know that nothing is as beautiful and pleasant as being in the kingdom heaven!
46.Shembe said: “When you travel to that land, you will journey through wildernesses and horrible forests which are full of thugs and bandits, tempters that tempt, those who expand their dominions of damnation!
47.Others spend up to thirty years, struggling to exit those forests because they ridiculed God’s Word; even now they are still in darkness!”
48.That is where this journey becomes very difficult, there being no prophet who has ever explained it as succinctly as Prophet Isaiah Shembe did.
49.Shembe’s description of death gives us a difficult picture, revealing that after death one goes astray, entering a forest in which they wander and stay alone for more than thirty years!
50.There would be nothing to eat or drink! In that forest one would find themselves running around for more than thirty years, always warding off animals alone in forests!
51.I once heard a certain maiden saying that when she went to the toilet at night, she heard her late friend calling her name.
52.While she was surprised, wondering who was calling her using that name, the departed soul simply appeared to her!
53.This maiden said the dead soul was soiled with blood and stripes all over her body, with her hair looking terribly unkempt as it was apparent that she had combed her hair for a long time, looking emaciated, obviously in great agony!
54.The dead soul asked her to go to her parents on her behalf and tell them she was suffering immensely due to constant beating.
55.This story troubled my heart because I know that it is true!
56.But the dead soul did not declare if she had not committed any sin whilst on earth and how her parents would liberate her from such trouble.
57.This maiden said she never went where she had been sent by her late friend!
58.If that maiden is listening, she should come to us; through the might of the God of eKuphakameni, she can rescue her late friend from such great distress!
59.The prophet said: “After journeying past such forests, you will emerge to a trouble-ridden area, where owls hoot in broad daylight, in remote wildernesses, where only one tree stands, the wild fern!
60.My children, it is always sombre and sunny in that place; many cannot pass through the place of the wild fern.
61.The word that is being preached here at eKuphakameni is a sword that will help you ward off your assailants; it will serve as a provision in melancholic wildernesses that you will traverse!
62.After journeying past that place, you will come across a river, before reaching Paratomi. You will have crossed River Huze, a great river that not any bather can just cross!
63.Ensure that when somebody has passed on you prepare them a flower bouquet so that they may not get stuck in Paratomi.
64.Hold such a service after seven days so that divine ushers may come forth and search for the traveller should they go astray! Love the future land!
65.Many drown in that river in which they bathe; it is the first life that one attains when ascending towards the mountains of joy, the place of the Saviour who is abundantly available to those who sincerely worship Him!
66.There are numerous heavenly territories, so are the hells. But you are fortunate that you have been shown the way to Yahuah’s heaven while you are still here on earth.
67.The heaven where Yahuah dwells is not like other heavens; it emits light while other heavens are marked by darkness. They leak, they are marked by famine, and they have all sorts of suffering!”
68.“Those who dwell in eKuphakameni are the saints because they dwell with the Holy One in solemn His holiness.
69.Likewise, those who are outside the city of the Great King are they who want what belongs to the living due to the anguish in which they dwell, due to lack of a dwelling place.
70.There is no way you, their progeny can help them except asking for their cleansing, forgiveness and admission to the holy city.”
71.I heard one of our priests relating an astonishing story. He said while he was asleep, he saw a well-known local witch.
72.It was during the last Holy Assembly of the month of July. He said: “I saw the witch down there. The witch that I saw has died.
73.She was wearing her apron, facing her homestead. When I saw her, I was struck by panic and returned home.
74.When I went up, she immediately followed me. She entered another homestead where inhabitants chased her away, after which she then came straight to my homestead and sat down. I then exited the house and asked, “what’s going on, granny?”
75.She was terribly stinking, much worse than I had ever experienced in my life. She said: “I am searching for a lodging place.” I then wondered where she wanted to dwell since she initially walked towards her homestead.
76.She then said: “I am suffering; I have gone for too long without taking a bath.” I asked myself what on earth was stinking so much; it was a smell I did not know!
77.While I was trying to speak, saliva would just come out oozing due to a strange smell that came out of that old woman. I then said: “While you were doing all the deeds you embarked on, did you not know that you would come across your demise and end up in this condition?”
78.She replied: “I knew that I would die, but I assumed that the dead get some rest! Alas, I am not resting; I thought I would rest just like the rest of the dead.”
79.I woke up from my sleep while I was conversing with that witch who is now late!”
79.All of us will experience this situation; many will be amazed to realise that heaven and hell do exist! There are many people who pretend to be knowledgeable while they are still here on earth; but such foolish cleverness does come to its tragic end!
May the Lord bless His Word.
This sermon is available on YouTube channel: Rev Mpanza NCG.