Ngoku Kunanini Na Ngaphambili, Hlalani Niphaphile!

“Masingalali njengoko abanye besenza, kodwa masihlale siphaphile, sithe qwa.”—1 TESALONIKA 5:6.

1, 2. (a) IPompeii neHerculaneum yayizizixeko ezinjani? (b) Sisiphi isilumkiso inkoliso yabemi basePompeii nabaseHerculaneum abasityeshelayo, yaye oku kwaba nawuphi umphumo?

KWINKULUNGWANE yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo, iPompeii neHerculaneum yayizizixeko ezazimi kakuhle zaseRoma ezazakhiwe emazantsi eNtaba iVesuvius. KumaRoma awayezizityebi, ezi yayiziindawo ezithandwayo zokuchitha iholide. Iiholo zazo zemidlalo yeqonga zazihlala abantu abangaphezu kwewaka, yaye ePompeii kwakukho ibala elikhulu lemidlalo yeqonga elalinokuhlala abantu bayo yonke loo dolophu. Abembi bezinto zakudala bafumana ePompeii iibhari neendawo ekwakuselelwa kuzo utywala ezili-118, ezinye zazo ezazisetyenziswa njengeendawo zokungcakaza okanye izindlu zonoongogo. Ukuziphatha okubi ngokwesini nokuthanda izinto eziphathekayo kwakuyimpilo yalapho, njengoko imifanekiso yodonga nezinye izinto ezafumanekayo apho zibonisa.

² NgoAgasti 24, 79 C.E., iNtaba iVesuvius yaqalisa ukudubula. Izazi ngeentaba-mlilo zikholelwa ukuba ukudubula kokuqala, okwatyekeza udaka olushushu nothuthu kwezo zixeko zibini, kusenokwenzeka ukuba akuzange kubathintele abemi balapho ukuba babaleke. Eneneni, abaninzi kubonakala ukuba benjenjalo. Noko ke, abanye abangazange bayibone le nto iyingozi kangako okanye abazityeshelayo ezi zilumkiso bakhetha ukuhlala. Kwandula ke ezinzulwini zobusuku, kwaphuma udaka olushushu olwaluhambisana neegesi yaye amatye aqengqelekela kwisixeko saseHerculaneum, yaye ezo gesi zabarhaxa bonke abemi ababesele kweso sixeko. Ekuseni ngosuku olulandelayo, udaka olufanayo lwabulala bonke abantu ababesePompeii. Lo yayingumphumo ombi gqitha wokutyeshela izilumkiso!

Isiphelo Senkqubo Yezinto YamaYuda

 3. Ukutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem kwakufana ngantoni noko kwePompeii neHerculaneum?

³ Isiphelo esiyintlekele sePompeii neseHerculaneum sasingenakuthelekiswa nentlekele yokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem kwiminyaka esithoba ngaphambilana, nangona loo ntlekele yabangelwa ngabantu. Le ntlekele ichazwa “njengeyona ndlela imbi yokuhlaselwa kwesixeko embalini,” kuthiwa yabulala amaYuda angaphezu kwesigidi. Noko ke, njengentlekele eyahlela iPompeii neHerculaneum, iYerusalem ayizange itshatyalaliswe kungakhange kubekho isilumkiso.

 4. Nguwuphi umqondiso uYesu awaprofeta ngawo ukulumkisa abalandeli bakhe ukuba isiphelo senkqubo yezinto sasisondele, yaye wazaliseka njani ngokuyintloko ngenkulungwane yokuqala?

⁴ UYesu Kristu waxela kwangaphambili ngokutshatyalaliswa kwesi sixeko yaye waprofeta ngeziganeko ezaziya kubakho ngaphambi kokuba oku kwenzeke—njengezinto ezothusayo ezifana neemfazwe, ukunqongophala kokutya, iinyikima nokuchasa umthetho. Kwakuya kubakho nabaprofeti bobuxoki, kodwa iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani bukaThixo zaziya kushunyayelwa ehlabathini lonke. (Mateyu 24:4-7, 11-14) Ngoxa amazwi kaYesu ezaliseka ngokuyintloko namhlanje, azaliseka ngomlinganiselo omncinane ngelo xesha. Imbali ithi kwabakho indlala eqatha kwelakwaYuda. (IZenzo 11:28) Umbhali-mbhali ongumYuda uJosephus uthi kwabakho inyikima eYerusalem ngaphambi nje kokuba kutshatyalaliswe eso sixeko. Njengoko isiphelo seYerusalem sasisondela, kwabakho imvukelo, imfazwe phakathi kwamaqela amaYuda ezobupolitika, neendyikitya zokufa kwizixeko ezahlukahlukeneyo ezazinabemi abangamaYuda nabeeNtlanga. Sekunjalo, iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani zazishunyayelwa “kwindalo yonke ephantsi kwezulu.”—Kolose 1:23.

5, 6. (a) Ngawaphi amazwi awaprofetwa nguYesu awazaliseka ngowama-66 C.E.? (b) Kwakutheni ukuze kufe abantu abaninzi xa ekugqibeleni iYerusalem yaphanziswa ngowama-70 C.E.?

⁵ Ekugqibeleni ngowama-66 C.E., amaYuda avukela iRoma. Xa uCestius Gallus wakhokela umkhosi ukuya kungqinga iYerusalem, abalandeli bakaYesu bakhumbula amazwi kaYesu athi: “Xa niyibona iYerusalem ingqongwe yimikhosi emise iintente, yazini ke ukuba kusondele ukuphanziswa kwayo. Mabandule abo bakwelakwaYuda basabele ezintabeni, nabo baphakathi kuyo mabemke, nabo bakwiindawo ezisemaphandleni mabangangeni kuyo.” (Luka 21:20, 21) Lalifikile ixesha lokuba bayishiye iYerusalem—kodwa njani? Bengalindelanga, uGallus nomkhosi wakhe barhoxa, bevula ithuba lokuba amaKristu aseYerusalem nawelakwaYuda athobele amazwi kaYesu aze abalekele ezintabeni.—Mateyu 24:15, 16.

⁶ Kwiminyaka emine kamva, malunga nexesha lePasika, imikhosi yamaRoma yabuya ikhokelwa nguNjengele uTitus, owayezimisele ukuyiphelisa loo mvukelo yamaYuda. Imikhosi yakhe yayirhangqa iYerusalem yaza ‘yayijikeleza ngezibonda ezibaziweyo,’ isenza kube nzima ukusaba. (Luka 19:43, 44) Ngaphezu kwako nje ukoyikiswa yimfazwe, inkitha yamaYuda eyayivela kubo bonke uBukhosi baseRoma yaya kwiPasika yaseYerusalem. Ngoku la maYuda ayebambisekile. Ngokutsho kukaJosephus, ezi ndwendwe ezazinelishwa zaba yinxalenye yabaninzi ababekwintlekele yokungqingwa ngamaRoma.a Xa ekugqibeleni iYerusalem yaphanzayo, malunga nomYuda omnye kwasixhenxe kuBukhosi baseRoma wafa. Ukutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem netempile yayo kwathetha isiphelo solawulo lwamaYuda nenkqubo yawo yonqulo eyayisekelwe kuMthetho kaMoses.b—Marko 13:1, 2.

 7. Kwakutheni ukuze amaKristu athembekileyo asinde kwintshabalalo yaseYerusalem?

⁷ Ngowama-70 C.E., amaKristu angamaYuda ngewayebulewe okanye athinjelwa ebukhobokeni kunye nabo bonke ababeseYerusalem. Noko ke, ngokutsho kwembali, asithobela isilumkiso sikaYesu awayesinikele kwiminyaka engama-37 ngaphambilana. Asishiya eso sixeko yaye akazange abuyele kuso.

Izilumkiso Ezivela Kubapostile Ngexesha Elifanelekileyo

 8. Yiyiphi imfuneko uPetros awayibonayo, yaye ngawaphi amazwi kaYesu ekusenokwenzeka ukuba wayecinga ngawo?

⁸ Namhlanje, eyona ntshabalalo inkulu isemnyango, leyo iya kuphelisa yonke le nkqubo yezinto. Kwiminyaka emithandathu ngaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem, umpostile uPetros wanikela isiluleko esingxamisekileyo nesisexesheni esisebenza ngokukhethekileyo kumaKristu anamhlanje esithi: Hlalani niphaphile! UPetros wabona imfuneko yokuba amaKristu avuselele ‘amandla awo okucinga’ ukuze angawutyesheli ‘umyalelo weNkosi,’ uYesu Kristu. (2 Petros 3:1, 2) Xa ebongoza amaKristu ukuba ahlale ephaphile, kunokwenzeka ukuba uPetros wayecinga ngamazwi kaYesu awawathetha kubapostile Bakhe kwiintsuku ezimbalwa ngaphambi kokufa Kwakhe athi: “Hlalani nikhangele, hlalani niphaphile, kuba anazi ukuba ixesha elimisiweyo linini na.”—Marko 13:33.

 9. (a) Sisiphi isimo sengqondo abanye abanokuba naso? (b) Kutheni ukuba nesimo sengqondo sokuthandabuza ngokukhethekileyo kuyingozi?

⁹ Namhlanje, bambi baye bahlekise besithi: “Buphi obu bukho bakhe buthenjisiweyo?” (2 Petros 3:3, 4) Kuyabonakala ukuba, abo bantu bavakalelwa kukuba izinto azizange zaguquka kodwa zisaqhubeka njengoko zazinjalo ukususela ekudalweni kwehlabathi. Ukuthandabuza okunjalo kuyingozi. Ukuthandabuza kunokusenza sizithabathe lula izinto, kusenze siphile ubomi bukavula-zibhuqe. (Luka 21:34) Ngaphezu koko, njengoko uPetros ebonisa, abagculeli abanjalo bawulibala uMkhukula womhla kaNowa, owatshabalalisa inkqubo yehlabathi yezinto. Izinto zaguquka ngokwenene ngelo xesha!—Genesis 6:13, 17; 2 Petros 3:5, 6.

10. Ngawaphi amazwi uPetros awasebenzisayo ukukhuthaza abo bangenamonde?

¹⁰ UPetros unceda abo bafunda incwadi yakhe ukuba bahlakulele umonde ngokubakhumbuza isizathu sokuba uThixo angathabath’ inyathelo ngokukhawuleza. Okokuqala, uPetros uthi: “Imini enye kuYehova injengeminyaka eliwaka neminyaka eliwaka injengemini enye.” (2 Petros 3:8) Ekubeni uYehova ephila ngonaphakade, unokucinga ngazo zonke iimeko aze akhethe elona xesha lifanelekileyo lokuthabath’ inyathelo. Wandula ke, uPetros achaze ukuba uYehova unqwenela ukuba bonke abantu baguquke kuyo yonke indawo. Umonde kaThixo uthetha usindiso kwabaninzi ababeya kutshabalala ukuba ebethabath’ amanyathelo ngokukhawuleza. (1 Timoti 2:3, 4; 2 Petros 3:9) Noko ke, ukuba nomonde kukaYehova akuthethi ukuba akasayi kwenza nto. UPetros uthi: “Imini kaYehova iya kuza njengesela.”—2 Petros 3:10.

11. Yintoni eya kusinceda sihlale siphaphile ngokomoya, yaye yintoni eya kuba ngathi ‘iyayikhawulezisa’ imini kaYehova?

¹¹ UPetros uthelekisa izinto ngendlela ephawulekayo. Akulula ukubamba amasela, kodwa umlindi ohlala ephaphile ubusuku bonke unokukwazi ukubona isela kunalowo wozelayo ngamanye amaxesha. Umlindi unokuhlala njani ephaphile? Ukuhambahamba kunokumenza ahlale ephaphile kunokuhlala phantsi ubusuku bonke. Ngokufanayo, ukuhlala sixakekile ngokomoya kuya kusinceda njengamaKristu ukuba sihlale siphaphile. Ngaloo ndlela, uPetros usibongoza ukuba sihlale sixakekile ‘kwihambo engcwele nezenzo zozinikelo lobuthixo.’ (2 Petros 3:11) Oko kuya kusinceda sihlale ‘sibukhumbula ubukho bemini kaYehova.’ Igama lesiGrike eliguqulelwe ngokuthi ‘ukukhumbula’ linokuguqulelwa ngokuthi ‘ukukhawulezisa.’ (2 Petros 3:12, umbhalo osemazantsi weNW eneembekiselo) Liyinyaniso elokuba, asinakuliguqula ixesha likaYehova. Imini yakhe iya kufika ngexesha lakhe alimiseleyo. Kodwa ukususela ngoku de ifike loo mini, ixesha liya kubonakala ngathi liyakhawuleza ukuba sizigcina sixakekile kwinkonzo yakhe.—1 Korinte 15:58.

12. Mntu ngamnye kuthi unokuzuza njani kumonde kaYehova?

¹² Ngenxa yoko, nabaphi na abavakalelwa kukuba imini kaYehova iyacotha bakhuthazwa ukuba baphulaphule isiluleko sikaPetros sokulilindela ngomonde ixesha likaYehova alimiseleyo. Eneneni, sinokulisebenzisa ngobulumko ixesha elongezelelekileyo uThixo alivumeleyo ngenxa yomonde anawo. Ngokomzekelo, sinokuqhubeka sihlakulela iimpawu ezibalulekileyo zobuKristu size sibe nesabelo ekushumayeleni iindaba ezilungileyo kubantu abangakumbi ababengayi kufikelelwa. Ukuba sihlala siphaphile, uYehova uya kusifumana ‘singenabala, singenasiphako yaye siseluxolweni’ ekupheleni kwale nkqubo yezinto. (2 Petros 3:14, 15) Hayi indlela okuya kuba yintsikelelo ngayo oko!

13. Ngawaphi amazwi kaPawulos awayesiya kumaKristu aseTesalonika abaluleke ngokukhethekileyo namhlanje?

¹³ Kwileta yakhe yokuqala eya kumaKristu aseTesalonika, uPawulos ukwathetha ngemfuneko yokuhlala siphaphile. Unikela esi siluleko: “Masingalali njengoko abanye besenza, kodwa masihlale siphaphile, sithe qwa.” (1 Tesalonika 5:2, 6) Namhlanje, njengoko isiphelo sale nkqubo yezinto yeli hlabathi sisondela, kubaluleke ngokwenene ukwenjenjalo! Abakhonzi bakaYehova baphila kwihlabathi elingenamdla kwizinto zokomoya, kwaye oku kunokubachaphazela. Ngenxa yoko, uPawulos unikela esi siluleko: “Thina ke bangabemini, masithi qwa, sinxibe isigcina-sifuba sokholo nothando nesigcina-ntloko esilithemba losindiso.” (1 Tesalonika 5:8) Ukufundisisa rhoqo iLizwi likaThixo nokunxulumana rhoqo nabazalwana bethu kwiintlanganiso kuya kusinceda ukuba silandele isiluleko sikaPawulos size sihlale sinesimo sengqondo sokungxamiseka.—Mateyu 16:1-3.

Izigidi Ezihlala Ziphaphile

14. Ngawaphi amanani abonisa ukuba namhlanje abaninzi balandela isiluleko sikaPetros sokuhlala siphaphile?

¹⁴ Ngaba baninzi abantu namhlanje abaluphulaphulayo ukhuthazo oluphefumlelweyo lokuhlala siphaphile? Ewe, kunjalo kanye. Ebudeni bonyaka wenkonzo yowama-2002, incopho yabavakalisi abazizi-6 304 645—ulwando olusisi-3,1 ekhulwini xa kuthelekiswa nowama-2001—bubungqina bokuba abo bavakalisi baphaphile ngokomoya kuba bachithe iiyure ezili-1 202 381 302 bethetha nabanye ngoBukumkani bukaThixo. Kwaba, ukwenza umsebenzi onjalo bekungeyonto nje. Bekungumsebenzi obalulekileyo ebomini babo. Isimo sengqondo sabaninzi sibonwa kumzekelo kaEduardo noNoemi base-El Salvador.

15. Yintoni eye yenzeka e-El Salvador ebonisa ukuba abaninzi bahlala bephaphile ngokomoya?

¹⁵ Kwiminyaka ethile eyadlulayo, uEduardo noNoemi baphulaphula amazwi kaPawulos awayesithi: “Imeko yeli hlabathi iyatshintsha.” (1 Korinte 7:31) Bazama ukuphila ubomi obulula baza baba ngoovulindlela bexesha elizeleyo. Njengoko ixesha lihamba, baye basikelelwa ngeendlela ezininzi yaye bada baba nesabelo kumsebenzi wesiphaluka nowesithili. Phezu kwako nje ukujamelana neengxaki ezininzi, uEduardo noNoemi baqinisekile ukuba benza isigqibo esifanelekileyo xa bancama ubutofotofo bezinto eziphathekayo ukuze babe kwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo. Uninzi kubavakalisi abangama-29 269—kuquka noovulindlela abangama-2 454—e-El Salvador baye babonakalisa umoya wokuzincama ofanayo, yaye kungenxa yeso sizathu lento kweli lizwe kukho ulwando olusisi-2 ekhulwini kwinani labavakalisi kunyaka ophelileyo.

16. Sisiphi isimo sengqondo esaboniswa ngumzalwana oselula waseCôte d’Ivoire?

¹⁶ ECôte d’Ivoire, isimo sengqondo esifanayo sabonakaliswa ngumKristu oselula owabhalela iofisi yesebe esithi: “Ndisisicaka solungiselelo. Kodwa andinakuxelela abazalwana ukuba babe ngoovulindlela ngoxa mna ndingamiseli umzekelo omhle. Ngoko ke ndiye ndawushiya umsebenzi ohlawula kakuhle yaye ngoku ndiyazisebenzela, nto leyo endenza ndibe nexesha elingakumbi kubulungiseli.” Lo mfana oselula uye waba ngomnye woovulindlela abangama-983 baseCôte d’Ivoire, ebinabavakalisi abangama-6 701 kunyaka ophelileyo, ulwando olusisi-5 ekhulwini.

17. INgqina eliselula laseBelgium labonakalisa njani ukuba lalingoyikiswa likhethe?

¹⁷ Ukunganyamezelani, ikhethe, nocalucalulo kuye kwaqhubeka kuyingxaki kubavakalisi boBukumkani abangama-24 961 eBelgium. Sekunjalo, banenzondelelo yaye aboyiki. Xa iNgqina elineminyaka eli-16 ubudala lava amaNgqina kaYehova echazwa njengehlelo xa kwakufundiswa ngonqulo esikolweni, lacela imvume yokuba lichaze imbono yalo. Lisebenzisa ividiyo ethi Jehovah’s Witnesses—The Organization Behind the Name nencwadana enemifanekiso ethi AmaNgqina KaYehova—Angoobani?, lakwazi ukucacisa ukuba amaNgqina ngoobani ngokwenene. Inkcazelo yalo yaxatyiswa, yaye kwiveki elandelayo abafundi bavavanywa ngokubuzwa imibuzo eyayiphathelele unqulo lwamaKristu lwamaNgqina kaYehova.

18. Bubuphi ubungqina obubonisa ukuba abavakalisi baseArgentina nabaseMozambiki abazange baphazamiseke ekukhonzeni uYehova ngenxa yeengxaki yezoqoqosho?

¹⁸ AmaKristu amaninzi ajamelana neengxaki ezinzulu ebudeni bale mihla yokugqibela. Sekunjalo, ayazama ukuba angaphazamiseki. Nangona isaziwa ngokuba nengxaki ezininzi zoqoqosho, iArgentina iye yanencopho entsha yamaNgqina angama-126 709 kunyaka ophelileyo. IMozambiki isathwaxwa bubuhlwempu. Sekunjalo, iye yanikela ingxelo ethi abangama-37 563 baye baba nesabelo kumsebenzi wokushumayela, ulwando lwe-4 ekhulwini. Ubomi abukho lula kwabaninzi eAlbania, sekunjalo elo lizwe liye lanikela ingxelo entle yolwando lwe-12 ekhulwini, efikelela incopho yabavakalisi abangama-2 708. Kucacile ukuba, umoya kaYehova awuthintelwa ziimeko ezinzima xa abakhonzi bakhe bebeka izilangazelelo zoBukumkani kuqala.—Mateyu 6:33.

19. (a) Yintoni ebonisa ukuba kusekho abantu abaninzi abanjengezimvu abalambele inyaniso yeBhayibhile? (b) Ziziphi ezinye iinkcukacha zengxelo yonyaka ezibonisa ukuba abakhonzi bakaYehova basaqhubeka bephaphile ngokomoya? (Bona isicangca kwiphepha 12-15.)

¹⁹ Umlinganiselo wenani lezifundo zeBhayibhile ezizi-5 309 289 eziye zaqhutywa nyanga nganye ehlabathini lonke kunyaka ophelileyo, uye wabonisa ukuba baninzi abantu abanjengezimvu abalambele inyaniso yeBhayibhile. Incopho entsha ezizi-15 597 746 yabo babeze kwiSikhumbuzo, uninzi lwabo alukabi ngabakhonzi bakaYehova. Ngamana bangaqhubeka bekhula elwazini yaye bemthanda uYehova nabazalwana. Kuyavuyisa ukubona ukuba “isihlwele esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu’ siqhubeka sinceda abanye njengoko sikhonza uMdali “imini nobusuku etempileni yakhe” sikunye nabazalwana baso abathanjiswe ngomoya.—ISityhilelo 7:9, 15; Yohane 10:16.

Ukufunda KuLote

20. Yintoni esiyifunda kumzekelo kaLote nomfazi wakhe?

²⁰ Kakade ke, nabakhonzi bakaThixo abathembekileyo banokuzithabatha lula izinto ngamanye amaxesha. Cinga ngomtshana ka-Abraham uLote. Iingelosi ezimbini ezazimtyelele zamxelela ukuba uThixo wayeza kuyitshabalalisa iSodom neGomora. Ezo ndaba azizange zimothuse uLote, “owayebandezeleke kakhulu kukuzifica kwihambo evakalala.” (2 Petros 2:7) Sekunjalo, xa ezi ngelosi zimbini zaza kumkhupha eSodom, ‘waqhubeka ezilazila.’ Ezi ngelosi kwafuneka zide zimtsale zimkhuphela ngaphandle kweso sixeko yena nentsapho yakhe. Kubonakala ukuba, umfazi kaLote wasityeshela isilumkiso seengelosi sokungajongi ngasemva. Isimo sakhe sengqondo sokungakhathali samenza waphulukana nobomi bakhe. (Genesis 19:14-17, 26) UYesu walumkisa esithi: “Khumbula umkaLote.”—Luka 17:32.

21. Kutheni kubalulekile ukuhlala siphaphile ngoku kunanini na ngaphambili?

²¹ Intlekele eyehlela iPompeii neHerculaneum neziganeko ezazinxulumene nokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem, kuquka nomzekelo woMkhukula womhla kaNowa nokaLote, konke oku kubonisa ukubaluleka kokuzithabatha nzulu izilumkiso. Njengabakhonzi bakaYehova, siyayibona imiqondiso ebonisa ixesha lesiphelo. (Mateyu 24:3) Siye sazahlula kunqulo lobuxoki. (ISityhilelo 18:4) NjengamaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala, sifanele ‘sibukhumbule ubukho bemini kaYehova.’ (2 Petros 3:12) Ewe, ngoku kunanini na ngaphambili, simele sihlale siphaphile! Ngawaphi amanyathelo esinokuwathabatha yaye ziziphi iimpawu esinokuzibonakalisa ukuze sihlale siphaphile? Kwinqaku elilandelayo kuya kuqwalaselwa loo mibandela.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

Ubuya Kuphendula Uthini?

• Ziziphi izinto ezenza amaKristu angamaYuda akwazi ukusaba xa kwakutshatyalaliswa iYerusalem?

• Isiluleko esabhalwa ngumpostile uPetros noPawulos sisinceda njani sihlale siphaphile?

• Ngoobani namhlanje ababonisa ukuba bahlala bephaphile?

• Yintoni esiyifundayo kumzekelo kaLote nowomfazi wakhe?

[Isicangca esikwiphepha 12-15]

INGXELO YONYAKA WENKONZO WAMA-2002 YAMANGQINA KAYEHOVA EHLABATHINI LONKE

(Bona imiqulu)

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 9]

Ngowama-66 C.E., amaKristu angabemi baseYerusalem aphulaphula isilumkiso sikaYesu

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 10]

Xa amaKristu ezigcina exakekile oko kuwanceda ahlale ephaphile