Linake Izwi LikaNkulunkulu Eliyisiprofetho Losuku Lwethu
“Qonda, ndodana yomuntu, ngokuba umbono ungowesikhathi sokuphela.”—DANIYELI 8:17.
1. Yini uJehova afuna sonke isintu siyazi mayelana nosuku lwethu?
UJEHOVA akalugodli ulwazi oluphathelene nezenzakalo zesikhathi esizayo. Kunalokho, unguMambuli wezimfihlo. Empeleni, ufuna sonke sazi ukuthi sesingene shí ‘esikhathini sokuphela.’ Yeka ukuthi lokho kuyizindaba ezisemqoka kangakanani kubantu abayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyisithupha abasemhlabeni manje!
2. Kungani abantu bekhathazekile ngekusasa lesintu?
2 Ingabe kuyamangaza ukuthi sekuseduze ukuba leli zwe liphele? Umuntu uyakwazi ukuhamba enyangeni, kodwa ezindaweni eziningi akakwazi ukuzishayelwa umoya ngokungesabi emigwaqweni ekule planethi. Uyakwazi ukugcwalisa indlu ngezinto zesimanje ezenza ukuphila kube lula, kodwa akakwazi ukunqanda igagasi lokuhlukana kwemikhaya. Futhi uyakwazi ukuletha inkathi yolwazi lobuchwepheshe, kodwa akakwazi ukufundisa abantu ukuba bahlale ndawonye ngokuthula. Lokhu kwehluleka kusekela ubufakazi obuningi obungokomBhalo bokuthi siphila esikhathini sokuphela.
3. Amagama athi ‘isikhathi sokuphela’ asetshenziswa nini ngokokuqala ngqá emhlabeni?
3 Lawo magama aphawulekayo—‘isikhathi sokuphela’—aqala ukusetshenziswa yingelosi uGabriyeli emhlabeni eminyakeni engaba ngu-2 600 edlule. Umprofethi kaNkulunkulu owayethukile wezwa uGabriyeli ethi: “Qonda, ndodana yomuntu, ngokuba umbono ungowesikhathi sokuphela.”—Daniyeli 8:17.
Lesi ‘Yisikhathi Sokuphela’!
4. Yiziphi ezinye izindlela iBhayibheli elikhuluma ngazo ngesikhathi sokuphela?
4 Inkulumo ethi ‘isikhathi sokuphela,’ ‘isikhathi sokugcina’ noma ‘isikhathi esimisiweyo’ ivela izikhathi eziyisithupha encwadini kaDaniyeli. (Daniyeli 8:17, 19; 11:35, 40; 12:4, 9) Ihlobene ‘nezinsuku zokugcina,’ ezabikezelwa umphostoli uPawulu. (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) UJesu Kristu wabiza le nkathi ngokuthi ‘ukuba khona’ kwakhe njengeNkosi esesihlalweni sobukhosi ezulwini.—Mathewu 24:37-39.
5, 6. Obani abaye ‘behla benyuka’ phakathi nesikhathi sokuphela, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?
5 UDaniyeli 12:4 uthi: “Kepha wena Daniyeli, [“yenza la mazwi abe yimfihlo,” NW], unamathelise incwadi kuze kube sesikhathini sokugcina; abaningi bayakwehla benyuka, ukwazi kube kuningi.” Okuningi kwalokho uDaniyeli akuloba kwenziwa imfihlo futhi kwananyatheliswa, kwaphela amakhulu eminyaka kungaqondakali kubantu. Kodwa kuthiwani namuhla?
6 Kulesi sikhathi sokuphela, amaKristu amaningi athembekile aye ‘ehla enyuka’ emakhasini eZwi likaNkulunkulu, iBhayibheli. Uye waba yini umphumela? Njengoba uJehova ebusisa imizamo yawo, ulwazi lweqiniso luye lwaba luningi. Ngokwesibonelo, oFakazi BakaJehova abagcotshiwe baye babusiswa ngokuqonda, okubenza bazi ukuthi uJesu Kristu waba yiNkosi yasezulwini ngonyaka ka-1914. Ngokuvumelana namazwi omphostoli akweyesi-2 Petru 1:19-21, laba abagcotshiwe nabangane babo abathembekile ‘bayalinaka izwi eliyisiprofetho’ futhi baqiniseka ngokugcwele ukuthi lesi yisikhathi sokuphela.
7. Yikuphi okunye kokulandisa okwenza incwadi kaDaniyeli ihluke?
7 Incwadi kaDaniyeli ihluke ngezindlela eziningi. Ilandisa ngenkosi esongela ukubulala amadoda ahlakaniphile ngoba ehluleka ukwambula nokuchaza iphupho layo elididayo, kodwa umprofethi kaNkulunkulu akehluleki. Izinsizwa ezintathu ezenqaba ukukhulekela isithombe esikhulu ziphonswa esithandweni somlilo esishisa bhé, nokho ziphuma zingahangukanga nakuhanguka. Phakathi nokugujwa komkhosi othile, amakhulu abantu abona isandla sibhala amagama angaqondakali odongeni lwesigodlo. Abakhi bozungu abakhohlakele benza ukuba ikhehla elithile liphonswe emgodini wezingonyama, kodwa liphuma lingenamyocu. Embonweni othile kubonakala izilo ezine, futhi lokho ezikumelelayo ngokwesiprofetho kufinyelela nasesikhathini sokuphela.
8, 9. Incwadi kaDaniyeli ingasizuzisa kanjani, ikakhulukazi manje esikhathini sokuphela?
8 Ngokusobala, incwadi kaDaniyeli inemikhakha emibili engafani nhlobo. Omunye uyalandisa, omunye uyisiprofetho. Yomibili ingalwakha ukholo lwethu. Izingxenye ezilandisayo zisibonisa ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu uyababusisa abagcina ubuqotho kuye. Futhi izingxenye eziyisiprofetho zakha ukholo ngokubonisa ukuthi uJehova wazi indlela izinto eziyokwenzeka ngayo emlandweni kusasele amakhulu eminyaka—ngisho nezinkulungwane zeminyaka—ngaphambi kokuba zenzeke.
9 Iziprofetho ezihlukahlukene ezalotshwa uDaniyeli zigxile eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. Njengoba sibona ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho ezinjalo, ukholo lwethu luyaqina futhi siyaqiniseka ukuthi siphila esikhathini sokuphela. Kodwa abanye abagxeki bayamsola uDaniyeli, bethi iziprofetho ezisencwadini ebizwa ngegama lakhe empeleni zalotshwa sezenzekile izigameko okubonakala zigcwalisa lezo ziprofetho. Uma kuyiqiniso lokho, kungaphakamisa imibuzo ebalulekile ngalokho incwadi kaDaniyeli eyakubikezela ngokuqondene nesikhathi sokuphela. Abagxeki bayayingabaza nengxenye elandisayo yale ncwadi. Ngakho ake siyihlole.
Iyiswa Enkantolo!
10. Kungamuphi umqondo incwadi kaDaniyeli imangalelwa?
10 Ake uzicabange usenkantolo, uzolalela icala. Umshushisi umi kwelokuthi ummangalelwa unecala lokukhohlisa. Incwadi kaDaniyeli iziveza njengencwadi eyiqiniso eyalotshwa umprofethi ongumHeberu owayephila phakathi nekhulu lesikhombisa nelesithupha B.C.E. Kodwa abagxeki bagomela ngokuthi le ncwadi iyinkohliso. Ngakho, ake siqale sibone ukuthi ingxenye elandisayo yale ncwadi iyavumelana yini namaqiniso angokomlando.
11, 12. Kwenzekani ngezinkulumo zokuthi uBelishasari wayemane engumuntu oqanjiwe?
11 Ake sicabangele lokho okungathiwa yindaba yenkosi engatholakali. UDaniyeli isahluko 5 ubonisa ukuthi uBelishasari wayebusa njengenkosi eBabiloni ngesikhathi lo muzi uchithwa ngo-539 B.C.E. Abagxeki baye bakuphikisa lokhu ngoba igama likaBelishasari lalingatholakali ndawo ngaphandle kwaseBhayibhelini. Kunalokho, izazi-mlando zasendulo zazithi nguNabonidasi owayeyinkosi yokugcina yaseBabiloni.
12 Kodwa ngonyaka ka-1854, kwavubukulwa imiphongolwana yobumba emanxiweni omuzi wasendulo waseBabiloni, i-Uri, e-Iraq yanamuhla. Le mibhalo eqoshiwe yayihlanganisa nomthandazo iNkosi uNabonidasi eyayikhuluma kuwo ‘ngoBel-sar-ussur, indodana yami endala.’ Ngisho nabagxeki kwadingeka bavume: Nangu uBelishasari wencwadi kaDaniyeli. Ngakho le nkosi engatholakali empeleni yayingalahlekile, yayimane nje ingaziwa yizwe. Lobu ubufakazi obubodwa nje kobuningi obubonisa ukuthi umbhalo kaDaniyeli uyiqiniso ngempela. Ubufakazi obunjalo bubonisa ukuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli ngempela iyingxenye yeZwi likaNkulunkulu ekufanelekelayo ukuba siyinakisise manje, kulesi sikhathi sokuphela.
13, 14. Wayengubani uNebukadinesari, futhi yimuphi unkulunkulu wamanga ayezinikele kakhulu kuye?
13 Kule ncwadi kaDaniyeli kuneziprofetho ezihilela ukulandelana kwemibuso yezwe nezenzo zabanye bababusi bayo. Omunye walaba angabizwa ngokuthi iqhawe elakha umbuso. Njengenkosana yaseBabiloni, yena nebutho lakhe bawabhuqa amabutho kaFaro Nekho waseGibithe eKharikemishi. Kodwa umyalezo othile waphoqa le nkosana yaseBabiloni eyayisinqobile ukuba ishiye ojenene bayo baqedele. Lapho izwa ukuthi uyise uNabopolassar, wayeseshonile, le nsizwa enguNebukadinesari yathatha isihlalo sobukhosi ngo-624 B.C.E. Phakathi nokubusa kwayo kweminyaka engu-43, yakha umbuso owawuhlanganisa izindawo ezazike zaba eze-Asiriya futhi yawenabisa wafinyelela eSiriya nasePalestina kwaze kwayoshaya emngceleni weGibithe.
14 Ngokwenkolo, uNebukadinesari wayezinikele kakhulu kuMarduk, unkulunkulu omkhulu waseBabiloni. Le nkosi yayibonga uMarduk ngakho konke ukunqoba kwayo. EBabiloni, uNebukadinesari wakha amathempeli kaMarduk nawabanye onkulunkulu abaningi baseBabiloni futhi wawenza aba mahle. Isithombe segolide esasimiswe yile nkosi yaseBabiloni ethafeni laseDura kungenzeka sasinikezelwe kuMarduk. (Daniyeli 3:1, 2) Futhi kubonakala sengathi uNebukadinesari wayethembele kakhulu ekubhuleni lapho ehlela izimpi zakhe.
15, 16. Yini uNebukadinesari ayenzela iBabiloni, futhi kwenzekani lapho eqhosha ngobukhulu bakhe?
15 Ngokuqedela izingange zaseBabiloni ezinkulu ezibhangqene ezaziqale ukwakhiwa uyise, uNebukadinesari wenza le nhloko-dolobha yabonakala ingenakunqobeka. Ukuze anelise indlovukazi yakhe engumMediya, eyayikhumbula amagquma namahlathi angakubo, kuthiwa uNebukadinesari wakha izingadi ezindaweni eziphakeme—esinye sezimangaliso eziyisikhombisa zezwe lasendulo. Wenza iBabiloni laba umuzi obiyelwe ngezingange omkhulu kunayo yonke ngaleso sikhathi. Futhi yeka ukuthi wayeziqhenya kangakanani ngokuba kuleso sikhundla sokukhulekela kwamanga!
16 “Angithi yileli Babele elikhulu engilakhile?” kuqhosha uNebukadinesari ngelinye ilanga. Nokho, ngokukaDaniyeli 4:30-36, “izwi lisesemlonyeni wenkosi,” yangenwa umsangano. Njengoba yayingasakufanelekeli ukubusa kwaze kwaphela iminyaka eyisikhombisa, yadla uhlaza, njengoba nje uDaniyeli ayebikezele. Ngemva kwalokho umbuso wayo wabuyiselwa kuyo. Uyazi ukuthi kubaluleke ngani lokhu ngokwesiprofetho? Ungayichaza yini indlela ukugcwaliseka kwakho okukhulu okusiletha ngayo esikhathini sokuphela?
Masithathe Ingxenye Yeziprofetho
17. Ungalichaza kanjani iphupho eliyisiprofetho uNkulunkulu alithumelela uNebukadinesari ngonyaka wesibili wokubusa kwakhe njengombusi wezwe?
17 Manje ake sithathe ezinye zeziprofetho ezisencwadini kaDaniyeli. Phakathi nonyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaNebukadinesari njengombusi wezwe wasesiprofethweni seBhayibheli (606/605 B.C.E.), uNkulunkulu wamthumelela iphupho elesabekayo. NgokukaDaniyeli isahluko 2, kuleli phupho kwakunesizemazema sesithombe esinekhanda legolide, isifuba nezingalo zesiliva, isisu namathanga ethusi, imilenze yensimbi nezinyawo zensimbi exutshwe nobumba. Zazimelelani lezi zitho ezihlukahlukene zesithombe?
18. Yini eyayimelelwa yikhanda legolide, isifuba nezingalo zesiliva, isisu namathanga ethusi esithombeni sasephusheni?
18 Umprofethi kaNkulunkulu watshela uNebukadinesari: “Wena nkosi . . . Wena uyikhanda legolide.” (Daniyeli 2:37, 38) UNebukadinesari wayeyinhloko yohlu lwamakhosi ayebusa eMbusweni WaseBabiloni. Lowo mbuso wagumbuqelwa yiMediya nePheresiya, emelelwe yisifuba nezingalo zesiliva zesithombe. Kwabe sekulandela uMbuso WaseGrisi, ofanekiselwa yisisu namathanga ethusi. Waqala kanjani lowo mbuso wezwe?
19, 20. Wayengubani u-Alexander Omkhulu, futhi iyiphi indima ayifeza ekwenzeni iGrisi ibe umbuso wezwe?
19 Ngekhulu lesine B.C.E., insizwa ethile yafeza indima ebalulekile ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli. Yazalwa ngo-356 B.C.E., futhi umhlaba wayibiza ngokuthi u-Alexander Omkhulu. Kwathi kungabulawa uyise, uPhilip, ngo-336 B.C.E., u-Alexander owayeneminyaka engu-20 ubudala wathola isihlalo sobukhosi saseMakedoniya njengefa.
20 Ngasekuqaleni kuka-May wango-334 B.C.E., u-Alexander waqala umkhankaso wokunqoba. Wayenebutho elincane kodwa eliqeqeshwe kahle lamasosha angu-30 000 ayimigundatshani nangu-5 000 ayekhwela amahhashi. Ngo- 334 B.C.E., eMfuleni iGranicus enyakatho-ntshonalanga ye-Asia Minor (manje eyiTurkey), u-Alexander wanqoba empini yakhe yokuqala ayeyilwa nabasePheresiya. Ngo-326 B.C.E., lo mnqobi ongakhathali wayesebahlulile futhi waya empumalanga waze wafika eMfuleni i-Indus, esePakistan yanamuhla. Kodwa u-Alexander wahlulwa empini yakhe yokugcina eseBabiloni. Ngo-June 13, 323 B.C.E., esaphile iminyaka engu-32 nezinyanga ezingu-8 nje kuphela, u-Alexander wanqotshwa yisitha esesabeka kunazo zonke, ukufa. (1 Korinte 15:55) Nokho, ngenxa yokunqoba kwakhe, iGrisi yayisiwumbuso wezwe, njengoba kwakubikezelwe esiprofethweni sikaDaniyeli.
21. Ngaphezu koMbuso WaseRoma, yimuphi omunye umbuso wezwe owawufanekiselwa yimilenze yensimbi yesithombe sephupho?
21 Yini emelelwa yimilenze yensimbi yesizemazema sesithombe? YiRoma enjengensimbi eyaphohloza yaphula uMbuso WaseGrisi. Njengoba ayengabonisi nhlonipho ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu owawumenyezelwa uJesu Kristu, amaRoma ambulala esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa ngo-33 C.E. Izama ukuqothula ubuKristu beqiniso, iRoma yashushisa abafundi bakaJesu. Kodwa imilenze yensimbi yesithombe sephupho likaNebukadinesari yayingafanekiseli uMbuso WaseRoma kuphela, kodwa yayifanekisela nomxhantela wawo wezombangazwe—uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika.
22. Isithombe sephupho sisisiza kanjani ukuba sibone ukuthi sesingené shí esikhathini sokuphela?
22 Ukutadisha ngokucophelela kufakazela ukuthi sesingené shí esikhathini sokuphela, ngoba sesifike ezinyaweni zensimbi nobumba zesithombe sephupho. Abanye ohulumeni bosuku lwanamuhla banjengensimbi noma bangomashiqela, kanti abanye banjengobumba. Nakuba ubumba eyakhiwe ngalo ‘inzalo yabantu’ luntekenteke, imibuso enjengensimbi iye yaphoqeleka ukuba ivumele abantu abavamile babe nezwi kohulumeni abababusayo. (Daniyeli 2:43; Jobe 10:9) Yiqiniso, ukubusa kobushiqela nabantu abavamile akuhlangani kuqine, njengoba nje kunjalo nangensimbi nobumba. Kodwa maduze uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uzoqeda leli zwe elihlukene ngokwezombangazwe.—Daniyeli 2:44.
23. Ungalichaza kanjani iphupho nemibono uDaniyeli aba nayo ngonyaka wokuqala wokubusa kukaBelishasari?
23 Isahluko sesikhombisa sesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli esivusa amadlingozi naso sisiletha esikhathini sokuphela. Silandisa ngesenzakalo esenzeka ngonyaka wokuqala wenkosi yaseBabiloni uBelishasari. UDaniyeli, owayeseminyakeni yawo-70 ngaleso sikhathi, ubona “iphupho nemibono yekhanda lakhe embhedeni wakhe.” Yeka indlela emethusa ngayo leyo mibono! “Bheka,” esho. “Imimoya yomine yezulu yavumbuluka elwandle olukhulu. Izilo ezine ezinkulu zakhuphuka elwandle, zahlukile esinye kwesinye.” (Daniyeli 7:1-8, 15) Yeka izilo ezingavamile! Esokuqala yingonyama enamaphiko, esesibili sifana nebhere. Bese kuba ingwe enamaphiko amane namakhanda amane! Esesine esinamandla ngokungajwayelekile sinamazinyo amakhulu ensimbi nezimpondo eziyishumi. Phakathi kwezimpondo zaso eziyishumi kuvela uphondo “oluncane” ‘olunamehlo anjengamehlo omuntu nomlomo okhuluma izinto ezinkulu.’ Zaze zayinqaba lezi zilwane!
24. NgokukaDaniyeli 7:9-14, yini uDaniyeli ayibonayo ezulwini, futhi lo mbono ubhekiselaphi?
24 Imibono kaDaniyeli elandelayo ibe isiphendukela ezulwini. (Daniyeli 7:9-14) “OMdala Wezinsuku,” uJehova uNkulunkulu, ubonakala ehlezi njengoMahluleli esihlalweni sobukhosi, ekhazimula. ‘Kunezinkulungwane zezinkulungwane ezimkhonzayo, nezinkulungwane eziyishumi zezinkulungwane eziyishumi ezimi ngaphambi kwakhe.’ Njengoba enikeza izilo isahlulelo sokulahlwa, uNkulunkulu uzephuca ukubusa abese ebhubhisa isilo sesine. ‘Onjengendodana yomuntu’ unikezwa ukubusa okungapheli phezu ‘kwabantu, izizwe nezilimi.’ Lokhu kubhekisela esikhathini sokuphela nasekubekweni kweNdodana yomuntu, uJesu Kristu, esihlalweni sobukhosi ngo-1914.
25, 26. Yimiphi imibuzo engase iphakame lapho sifunda incwadi kaDaniyeli, futhi iyiphi incwadi engasisiza ekuyiphenduleni?
25 Abafundi bencwadi kaDaniyeli nakanjani bayoba nemibuzo. Ngokwesibonelo, zimelelani izilo ezine zikaDaniyeli isahluko 7? Amelelani “amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa” kaDaniyeli 9:24-27? Kuthiwani ngoDaniyeli isahluko 11 nokungqubuzana ‘kwenkosi yasenyakatho nenkosi yaseningizimu’? Singalindelani ngala makhosi kulesi sikhathi sokuphela?
26 UJehova uye wenza ukuba lezi zinto ziqondakale ezincekwini zakhe ezigcotshiwe emhlabeni, ‘abangcwele boPhezukonke,’ njengoba bebizwa kanjalo kuDaniyeli 7:18. Ngaphezu kwalokho, “isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo” senze ilungiselelo lokuba sonke siyiqonde ngokwengeziwe imibhalo ephefumulelwe yomprofethi uDaniyeli. (Mathewu 24:45) Manje lokhu kuqonda kuyatholakala encwadini esanda kukhululwa ethi Sinake Isiprofetho SikaDaniyeli! Le ncwadi enemifanekiso emihle, enamakhasi angu-320 ikhuluma ngayo yonke incwadi kaDaniyeli. Ikhuluma ngesiprofetho ngasinye esakha ukholo, nakho konke ukulandisa okwalotshwa umprofethi othandekayo uDaniyeli.
Inencazelo Yangempela Yosuku Lwethu
27, 28. (a) Yini eyiqiniso mayelana nokugcwaliseka kweziprofetho ezisencwadini kaDaniyeli? (b) Iyiphi inkathi esiphila kuyo, futhi kufanele senzeni?
27 Manje cabangela leli phuzu elisemqoka: Ngaphandle kwemininingwane embalwa, zonke iziprofetho ezisencwadini kaDaniyeli sezigcwalisekile. Ngokwesibonelo, siyasibona manje isimo sezwe esifanekiselwa yizinyawo zesithombe sephupho likaDaniyeli isahluko 2. Isiqu somuthi esikuDaniyeli isahluko 4 saqaqwa amabhande ngokubekwa kweNkosi uJesu Kristu enguMesiya esihlalweni sobukhosi ngonyaka ka-1914. Yebo, njengoba kwabikezelwa kuDaniyeli isahluko 7, oMdala Wezinsuku wabe esenika iNdodana yomuntu umbuso.—Daniyeli 7:13, 14; Mathewu 16:27–17:9.
28 Izinsuku ezingu-2 300 zikaDaniyeli isahluko 8 kanye nezingu-1 290 nezingu-1 335 zesahluko 12 zonke sezidlulile. Ukutadisha uDaniyeli isahluko 11 kubonisa ukuthi ukungqubuzana ‘kwenkosi yasenyakatho neyaseningizimu’ sekufike ezigabeni zokugcina. Konke lokhu kunezela ebufakazini bemiBhalo bokuthi manje sesingene shí esikhathini sokuphela. Uma sicabangela isikhathi esiyingqayizivele esikuso, yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza? Akukho kungabaza ngokuthi kufanele silinake izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho.
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
• Yini uNkulunkulu afuna sonke isintu siyazi ngosuku lwethu?
• Incwadi kaDaniyeli ingalwakha kanjani ukholo lwethu?
• Isithombe sephupho likaNebukadinesari sasinaziphi izici, futhi zazimelelani?
• Yini ephawulekayo ngokugcwaliseka kweziprofetho ezitholakala encwadini kaDaniyeli?