Izinsuku Zezenzakalo

Incazelo: Izinsuku zezenzakalo ziphawula isikhathi lapho kwenzeka izenzakalo. IBhayibheli likhuluma ngezinsuku zezenzakalo ngokuhlobene nesikhathi sokuphila kwabantu abathile, isikhathi lapho ababusi abathile babebusa, noma ezinye izenzakalo eziphawulekayo. Liqukethe uhlu oluphelele lwezenzakalo zomlando olufinyelela emuva esikhathini sokudalwa kuka-Adamu. Ukuhlelwa kwezenzakalo ngokweBhayibheli futhi kwakhomba kusengaphambili isikhathi lapho izenzakalo ezithile ezibalulekile ekugcwalisekeni kwenjongo kaNkulunkulu ziyokwenzeka khona. Ikhalenda likaGregory, okuyilona elisetshenziswayo manje ezingxenyeni eziningi zomhlaba, alizange lisetshenziswe kwaze kwaba ngo-1582. Emithonjeni yezwe kukhona ukungavumelani ngezinsuku okuthiwa ezezenzakalo ezithile emlandweni wasendulo. Nokho, izinsuku ezithile eziyinhloko, njengo-539 B.C.E. wokuwa kweBabiloni, no-537 B.C.E. wokubuya kwamaJuda ekuthunjweni, zaziwa kahle kakhulu. (Ezra 1:1-3) Sisebenzisa izinsuku ezinjalo njengesiqala ngazo, kungenzeka ukuveza ngokwamakhalenda anamuhla izinsuku zezenzakalo zeBhayibheli zasendulo.

Ingabe ososayensi baye babuveza ubufakazi bokuthi abantu bebesemhlabeni izigidi zeminyaka, hhayi nje izinkulungwane ezithile zeminyaka njengoba iBhayibheli libonisa?

Izindlela zokutholakala kwezinsuku zezenzakalo ezisetshenziswa ososayensi zakhelwe ekucabangeleni okungase kube usizo kodwa ngokuvamile okuholela emiphumeleni ephikisana kakhulu. Ngakho-ke, izinsuku abazinikezayo zilokhu zibukezwa njalo.

Umbiko kuNew Scientist kaMarch 18, 1982, ufundeka kanje: “‘Kungishayisa uvalo ukukholelwa ukuthi esikhathini esincane kangangonyaka esidlule ngasho izinkulumo engazisho.’ Washo kanjalo uRichard Leakey, phambi kwezilaleli ezikhethekile zenkulumo yakusihlwa ngoLwesihlanu oludlule eRoyal Institution. Wayezele ukuzokwembula ukuthi ukuhlakanipha okungokwesiko, lokho ayesanda kukusekela ochungechungeni lwakhe lwethelevishini yeBBC oluthi The Making of Mankind, ‘cishe kwakuyiphutha ezindaweni eziningana ezibucayi.’ Ikakhulukazi, manje usebona ukhokho omdala kakhulu womuntu njengomncane kakhulu kuneminyaka eyizigidi eziyi-15-20 ayeyisekela kuthelevishini.”—K. 695.

Ngezikhathi ezithile, izindlela ezintsha zokuthola izinsuku zezenzakalo ziyatholakala. Zithembeke kangakanani lezindlela? Ngokuqondene nenye eyaziwa ngokuthi ithermoluminescence, iThe New Encyclopædia Britannica (1976, Macropædia, Umq. 5, k. 509) ithi: “Kunokuba kube okufeziwe, yithemba kakhulukazi elinikeza isithunzi endleleni yokuthola izinsuku zezenzakalo yethermoluminescence okwamanje.” Futhi iScience (August 28, 1981, k. 1003) ibika ukuthi uhlaka lwamathambo olwalubonisa ubudala beminyaka eyizi-70 000 ngeamino acid racemization lwanikeza iminyaka eyizi-8 300 noma 9 000 kuphela ngendlela yemisebe yokuthola izinsuku zezenzakalo.

IPopular Science (November 1979, k. 81) ibika ukuthi isazi sesayensi uRobert Gentry “ukholelwa ukuthi zonke izinsuku zezenzakalo ezitholakala ngemisebe kungenzeka ziyiphutha—hhayi nje ngeminyaka emibalwa kuphela, kodwa ngephindwe ngamashumi.” Lesihloko siveza ukuthi akuthola kuyoholela esiphethweni sokuthi “umuntu, esikhundleni sokuba ngohambe emhlabeni iminyaka eyizigidi ezingu-3,6, kungenzeka unezinkulungwane ezimbalwa kuphela ekhona.”

Nokho, kumelwe kuphawulwe ukuthi, ososayensi bakholelwa ukuthi ubudala bomhlaba ngokwawo bukhulu kakhulu kunobudala bomuntu. IBhayibheli aliphikisani nalokho.

Ingabe ubudala babantu ngaphambi kukaZamcolo, njengoba kuphawulwe eBhayibhelini, babulinganiswa ngohlobo olufana nolweminyaka esiyisebenzisayo?

Uma kwakucatshangwa ukuthi “iminyaka” kumelwe ilingane nezinyanga zethu, khona-ke uEnoshe waba ngubaba eneminyaka eyisikhombisa ubudala, kanti uKhenani wayeneyisihlanu kuphela ubudala lapho eba nendodana. (Gen. 5:9, 12) Lokho, ngokusobala akunakwenzeka.

Ukuhlelwa okuningiliziwe kwezenzakalo okwanikezwa ngokuqondene noZamcolo kubonisa ubude bezinyanga neminyaka eyayisetshenziswa ngalesosikhathi. Ukuqhathanisa uGenesise 7:11, 24 no-8:3, 4 kubonisa ukuthi izinyanga eziyisihlanu (kusukela ngolwe-17 lwenyanga yesi-2 kuya kolwe-17 lwenyanga yesi-7) zazilingana nezinsuku eziyi-150, noma izinyanga eziyisihlanu ezinezinsuku ezingama-30 iyinye. Kubhekiselwa ngokuqondile “enyangeni yeshumi” nakwezinye izinkathi ezingemva kwalokho ngaphambi kokuba kufikwe onyakeni olandelayo. (Gen. 8:5, 6, 8, 10, 12-14) Ngokusobala, iminyaka yabo yayenziwa izinyanga eziyishumi nambili ezinezinsuku ezingama-30 iyinye. Ekuqaleni impela, ikhalenda lonyaka lalilungiswa ngezikhathi ezithile lihambisane nobude bonyaka, njengoba kuboniswa ukugcina kwamaIsrayeli imikhosi yezinkathi yokuvuna ngezinsuku ezithile. Ngaleyondlela lemikhosi yayiqhubeka iba ngezikhathi ezifanelekile.—Lev. 23:39.

Khumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu wenza abantu ukuba baphile phakade. Isono sika-Adamu esaholela ekufeni. (Gen. 2:17; 3:17-19; Roma 5:12) Labo abaphila ngaphambi kukaZamcolo babeseduze nokuphelela kunokuba sinjalo namuhla, ngakho babephila isikhathi eside impela. Kodwa ngamunye wayefa engakayiqedi iminyaka eyinkulungwane.

Kungani oFakazi BakaJehova bethi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wamiswa ngo-1914?

Kunezinhlobo ezimbili zobufakazi ezikhomba kulowonyaka: (1) Ukuhlelwa kwezenzakalo ngokweBhayibheli (2) izenzakalo kusukela ngo-1914 ezigcwalisa isiprofetho. Lapha sizocabangela ukuhlelwa kwezenzakalo. Ngokuqondene nokugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho, bheka isihloko esikhulu esithi “Izinsuku Zokugcina.”

Funda uDaniyeli 4:1-17. Amavesi 20-37 abonisa ukuthi lesiprofetho sagcwaliseka kuNebukadinesari. Kodwa futhi sinokugcwaliseka okukhulu. Sikwazi kanjani lokho? Amavesi 3 no-17 abonisa ukuthi iphupho uNkulunkulu alinikeza iNkosi uNebukadinesari liphathelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu nesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sokuwunikeza “amthandayo . . . ophansi phakathi kwabantu.” Lonke iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi injongo kaJehova iwukuba iNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu, ibuse njengommeleli waKhe phezu kwesintu. (IHu. 2:1-8; Dan. 7:13, 14; 1 Kor. 15:23-25; IsAm. 11:15; 12:10) Incazelo yeBhayibheli ngoJesu ibonisa ukuthi ngempela ‘wayengophansi phakathi kwabantu.’ (Fil. 2:7, 8; Math. 11:28-30) Khona-ke, iphupho elingokwesiprofetho likhomba esikhathini lapho uJehova eyonikeza iNdodana yakhe ukubusa phezu kwesintu.

Kwakuzokwenzekani ngaphambi kwalesosikhathi? Ukubusa phezu kwesintu, njengoba kwakumelelwe umuthi nesiqu sawo, kwakuyoba ‘nenhliziyo yesilwane.’ (Dan. 4:16) Umlando wesintu wawuyobuswa ohulumeni ababonisa izimfanelo zezilwane zasendle. Ezikhathini zanamuhla, ibhere ngokuvamile lisetshenziselwa ukumelela iRashiya; ukhozi, iUnited States; ibhubesi, iBrithani; udrako, iChina. NeBhayibheli lisebenzisa izilwane zasendle njengezimelele ohulumeni bomhlaba nesimiso sembulunga yonke sokubusa kwabantu ngaphansi kwethonya likaSathane. (Dan. 7:2-8, 17, 23; 8:20-22; IsAm. 13:1, 2) Njengoba uJesu abonisa esiprofethweni sakhe esikhomba esiphelweni salesimiso sezinto, iJerusalema ‘laliyonyathelwa phansi ngabezizwe, kuze kugcwaliseke izikhathi zabezizwe.’ (Luka 21:24) “IJerusalema” lalimelele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngoba amakhosi alo kwakuthiwa ahlezi “esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso kaJehova.” (1 IziKr. 28:4, 5; Math. 5:34, 35) Ngakho-ke, ohulumeni babeZizwe, bemelelwe izilo zasendle, ‘babeyonyathela’ ilungelo loMbuso kaNkulunkulu lokuqondisa izindaba zesintu futhi bona ngokwabo balandele ukuqondisa kukaSathane.—Qathanisa noLuka 4:5, 6.

Kwakuyoba isikhathi esingakanani ohulumeni abanjalo bevunyelwe ukuba baphathe ngaphambi kokuba uJehova anikeze uMbuso kuJesu Kristu? UDaniyeli 4:16 uthi “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” (“iminyaka eyisikhombisa,” ngokweAT neMo, kanye nombhalo waphansi weJB evesini le-13). IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi ekubaleni isikhathi esingokwesiprofetho, usuku lubalwa njengonyaka. (Hez. 4:6; Num. 14:34) Khona-ke, “izinsuku” ezingaki ezihilelekile? IsAmbulo 11:2, 3 siphawula ngokusobala ukuthi izinyanga ezingama-42 (iminyaka engu-3 1/2) kulesosiprofetho zibalwa njengezinsuku eziyi-1 260. Iminyaka eyisikhombisa yayiyokuphinda kabili lokho, noma izinsuku eziyizi-2 520. Ukusebenzisa umthetho wokuthi “umnyaka ngosuku” kuyophumela eminyakeni eyizi-2 520.

UKUBALA “IZIKHATHI EZIYISIKHOMBISA”

“Izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” = 7 x 360 = iminyaka eyizi-2 520

“Isikhathi,” noma unyaka ngokweBhayibheli = 12 x izinsuku ezingama-30 = 360. (IsAm. 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14)

Ekugcwalisekeni ‘kwezikhathi eziyisikhombisa’ usuku ngalunye lulingana nonyaka owodwa. (Hez. 4:6; Num. 14:34)

Ekuqaleni kukaOctober, 607 B.C.E., kuya kuDecember 31, 607 B.C.E. = 1/4 yonyaka

January 1, 606 B.C.E., kuya kuDecember 31, 1 B.C.E. = 606 iminyaka

January 1, 1 C.E., kuya kuDecember 31, 1913 = 1 913 iminyaka

January 1, 1914, kuya ekuqaleni kukaOctober, 1914 = 3/4 yonyaka

Ingqikithi: 2 520 iminyaka

Ukubalwa ‘kwezikhathi eziyisikhombisa’ kwaqala nini? Ngemva kokuba uSedekiya, inkosi yokugcina eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu ongokomfanekiso, esusiwe esihlalweni sobukhosi eJerusalema ngabaseBabiloni. (Hez. 21:25-27) Ekugcineni, ekuqaleni kukaOctober ka-607 B.C.E. insalela yokugcina yobukhosi bamaJuda yaphela. Ngalesosikhathi umbusi wamaJuda, uGedaliya, owayenikezwe ngabaseBabiloni ukuba aphathe, wayesebulewe, futhi insalela yamaJuda yayisibalekele eGibithe. (Jeremiya, izahluko 40-43) Ukuhlelwa okuthembekile kwezenzakalo ngokweBhayibheli kubonisa ukuthi lokhu kwenzeka eminyakeni engama-70 ngaphambi kuka-537 B.C.E., unyaka amaJuda abuya ngawo ekuthunjweni; okungukuthi, kwenzeka ekuqaleni kukaOctober ka-607 B.C.E. (Jer. 29:10; Dan. 9:2; ngokuqondene nemininingwane eyengeziwe, bheka incwadi ethi Ungaphila Phakade EPharadesi Emhlabeni, amakhasi 138-141.)

Pho, isikhathi sibalwa kanjani-ke kuze kuyofikwa ku-1914? Ukubala iminyaka eyizi-2 520 kusukela ekuqaleni kukaOctober 607 B.C.E. kusiletha ekuqaleni kukaOctober ka-1914 C.E., njengoba kuboniswe ishadi.

Yini eyenzeka ngalesosikhathi? UJehova wanikeza ukubuswa kwesintu eNdodaneni yakhe, uJesu Kristu, ekhazinyulisiwe emazulwini.—Dan. 7:13, 14.

Pho kungani kusenobubi obungaka emhlabeni? Ngemva kokuba uKristu ebekwe esihlalweni sobukhosi, uSathane namademoni akhe bakhishwa ezulwini baphonselwa phansi emhlabeni. (IsAm. 12:12) UKristu njengeNkosi akazange aqhubeke ngokushesha abhubhise bonke abenqaba ukwamukela ubukhosi bukaJehova naye njengoMesiya. Kunalokho, njengoba ayebikezele, kwakumelwe kwenziwe umsebenzi wokushumayela wembulunga yonke. (Math. 24:14) NjengeNkosi wayeyoqondisa ukwehlukaniswa kwabantu bazo zonke izizwe, labo ababonakala belungile banikezwe ithemba lokuphila okuphakade, kuthi ababi babelwe ukunqunywa kwaphakade ekufeni. (Math. 25:31-46) Okwamanje, zona kanye izimo ezinzima ezazibikezelelwe “izinsuku zokugcina” zizodlanga. Njengoba kuboniswe ngaphansi kwesihloko esithi “Izinsuku Zokugcina,” lezozenzakalo ziye zabonakala ngokukhanyayo kusukela ngo-1914. Ngaphambi kokuba amalungu okugcina esizukulwane esasiphila ngo-1914 adlule emhlabeni, zonke izinto ezabikezelwa zizokwenzeka, kuhlanganise ‘nosizi olukhulu’ lapho izwe lamanje elibi lizophela khona.—Math. 24:21, 22, 34.

Ukuphela kwalelizwe elibi kuyofika nini?

UJesu waphendula: “Lolosuku nalelohora akakho owazi-lutho ngalo nazingelosi zasezulwini, naNdodana, nguBaba kuphela.” Nokho, waphawula futhi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Lesisizukulwane [esasiphila lapho “isibonakaliso” ‘sezinsuku zokugcina’ siqala ukugcwaliseka kwaso] asiyikudlula kungakenzeki konke lokhu.”—Math. 24:36, 34.

Futhi, ngemva kokulandisa ngezenzakalo ezaziyolandela ukumiswa koMbuso ezandleni zikaJesu Kristu ngo-1914, isAmbulo 12:12 siyanezela: “Thokozani nina-mazulu nabahlala kuwo; maye kuwe-mhlaba nakuwe-lulwandle, ngokuba uSathane wehlele kini enolaka olukhulu, azi ukuthi unesikhathi esifushane!”