Ukusinda Siphila Sidlule Osizini Olukhulu
“Laba yibo abaphuma osizini olukhulu, bahlanza izingubo zabo, bazenza zaba-mhlophe egazini leWundlu.”—ISAMBULO 7:14.
1. Obani abayokwamukela abavusiwe ovukweni lwasemhlabeni?
LAPHO izigidi ezingenakubalwa zivuswa ‘ovukweni lwabalungile nolwabangalungile,’ azinakuvuselwa emhlabeni okhala ibhungane. (IzEnzo 24:15) Ziyovukela ezindaweni ezithuthukiswe ngendlela ekhangayo futhi zithole ukuthi ziye zalungiselelwa izindawo zokuhlala, izembatho, nenala yokudla. Ubani oyokwenza wonke lamalungiselelo? Ngokusobala, kuyobe kunabantu abaphila ezweni elisha ngaphambi kokuba kuqale uvuko lwasemhlabeni. Bangobani? IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi kuyobe kungabasinde osizini olukhulu oluzayo. Ngokungangabazeki, kuzo zonke izimfundiso zeBhayibheli, lena ngenye ethakazelisa ngempela—ukuthi abantu abathile abathembekile bayosinda bephila badlule osizini olukhulu futhi ngeke neze kudingeke ukuba bafe. Lelithemba liqinisekisiwe emiBhalweni eNgcwele.
Njengasezinsukwini ZikaNowa
2, 3. (a) Ikuphi ukufana okukhona phakathi kwezinsuku zikaNowa nesikhathi sethu? (b) Yini eboniswa ukusinda kukaNowa nomkhaya wakhe kuZamcolo?
2 KuMathewu 24:37-39, uJesu Kristu waqhathanisa izinsuku zikaNowa nezinsuku zokugcina, manje esizithola sikuzo. Wathi: “Njengasemihleni kaNowa, kuyakuba-njalo ukufika kweNdodana yomuntu. Ngokuba njengasezinsukwini lezo ezandulela uzamcolo babedla, bephuza, beganwa, bendiswa, kwaze kwafika usuku uNowa angena ngalo emkhunjini, abazanga kwaze kwafika uzamcolo wabakhukhula bonke, kuyakuba-njalo ukufika kweNdodana yomuntu.”
3 UZamcolo wembulunga yonke wakhukhula bonke abangazange basinake isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu esiyisixwayiso. Nokho, awuzange umkhukhule uNowa nomkhaya wakhe. ‘Bangena emkhunjini,’ njengoba uJesu esho. Ngenxa yokuzinikela kwabo kokwesaba uNkulunkulu, uJehova wabalungiselela indlela yokuphepha. Eyesi-2 Petru 2:5, 9 ibhekisela ekusindeni kukaNowa nomkhaya wakhe lapho ithi: “[UNkulunkulu] wamlondoloza uNowa, umshumayeli wokulunga, engowesishiyagalombili, mhla eletha uzamcolo ezweni elingamesabi uNkulunkulu; iNkosi iyakwazi ukuhlangulisa ekulingweni abamesabayo uNkulunkulu.” UJesu waqhathanisa usuku lukaNowa nezinsuku zokugcina ukuze abonise ukuthi abantu ngokuvamile babengenakusilalela isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu esiyisixwayiso. Nokho, ngokwenza kanjalo wavuma futhi ukuthi uNowa nomkhaya wakhe bamlalela uJehova uNkulunkulu, bangena emkhunjini, futhi basinda kuZamcolo omkhulu. Ukusinda kukaNowa nomkhaya wakhe kubhekisela ekusindeni kwezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile ekupheleni kwalelizwe.
Isibonelo Sekhulu Lokuqala
4. Ekugcwalisekeni kwamazwi kaJesu, iziphi izenzakalo ezaholela ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema ngo-70 C.E.?
4 UJesu futhi wakhuluma ngezenzakalo ezaziyokwenzeka ekupheleni kwalelizwe. KuMathewu 24:21, 22 siyafunda: “Ngokuba lapho kuyakuba-khona usizi olukhulu olungazange lube-khona kwasekuqaleni kwezwe kuze kube-manje nolungasayikuba-khona. Uma lezozinsuku zingafinyezwanga, bekungesindiswe-muntu; kepha ngenxa yabakhethiweyo lezozinsuku ziyakufinyezwa.” Lamazwi athola ukugcwaliseka kokuqala ekhulwini lokuqala leSikhathi sethu Esivamile. Ngo-66 C.E., umuzi waseJerusalema wavinjezelwa amabutho amaRoma ngaphansi kukaCestius Gallus. Amabutho amaRoma aze afinyelela eqophelweni lokucekela phansi udonga lwethempeli, futhi amaJuda amaningi ayesezimisele ukuzinikela. Nokho, ngokungalindelekile, nangesizathu esingaqondakali, uCestius Gallus wahoxisa amabutho akhe. Lapho ebona amaRoma ehoxa, amaKristu enza ngokuvumelana namazwi kaJesu, akhulunywa eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambili: “Nxa nibona iJerusalema lihaqiwe yizimpi, yazini ukuthi sekusondele ukuchithwa kwalo. Khona abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni, abaphakathi kwalo baphume, abasemaphandleni bangangeni kulo.” (Luka 21:20, 21) AmaJuda ayephendukele ebuKristwini, abakhethiweyo, awushiya ngokushesha umuzi waseJerusalema onikelwe ekubhujisweni futhi ngaleyondlela asinda ekubhujisweni okwesabekayo okwehlela lowomuzi ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho. Ngo-70 C.E., amabutho amaRoma ngaphansi kukaJenene Titus abuya. Akanisa azungeza iJerusalema, avimbezela umuzi, futhi awuchitha.
5. Usizi lwaseJerusalema lwafinyezwa ngamuphi umqondo ngo-70 C.E.?
5 Isazimlando esingumJuda uJosephus silandisa ukuthi amaJuda angu-1 100 000 afa, kuyilapho angu-97 000 asinda futhi athunjwa. LawomaJuda angewona amaKristu asinda ayengebona neze “abakhethiweyo” besiprofetho sikaJesu. Ekhuluma nesizwe samaJuda esihlubukayo, uJesu wayethé: “Bhekani, indlu yenu isisala nani. Ngokuba ngithi kini: Anisayikungibona nize nithi: Ubusisiwe ozayo egameni leNkosi.” (Mathewu 23:38, 39) Akukho ukulandisa okubonisa ukuthi lawomaJuda ayengaphakathi kwemingcele yeJerusalema, ngomzuzu wokugcina amamukela uJesu njengoMesiya, aba amaKristu, futhi athola umusa kaJehova. Nakuba kunjalo, usizi olwehlela iJerusalema ngo-70 C.E., lwafinyezwa. Ukuvimbezela kokugcina okwenziwa amabutho amaRoma akuzange kuthathe isikhathi eside. Lokhu kwabangela ukuba amanye amaJuda asinde, kuphela nje uma ayezovuma ukuthunyelwa ezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene zoMbuso WamaRoma njengezigqila.
Isixuku Esikhulu Sabasindile
6, 7. (a) Imuphi umuzi omkhulu ongokwenkolo osazobhujiswa, njengengxenye yaluphi usizi olungenakuqhathaniswa? (b) Yini uJohane ayiprofetha ngokuphathelene nosizi olukhulu oluzayo kulelizwe?
6 Nakuba ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-70 C.E. kwaletha “usizi olukhulu” ngempela kulowomuzi ongokwenkolo, ukugcwaliseka okukhulu kwamazwi kaJesu kusazokwenzeka. Umuzi ongokwenkolo omkhulu kakhulu, iBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, uzobhekana nosizi olukhulu olubhubhisayo oluzolandelwa ngokushesha usizi olungenakuqhathaniswa kuso sonke isimiso sezinto sikaSathane. (Mathewu 24:29, 30; IsAmbulo 18:21) Eminyakeni engaba ngu-26 ngemva kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema, umphostoli uJohane, kusAmbulo 7:9-14, wabhala ngalolusizi oluyohlanganisa izwe lonke. Wabonisa ukuthi isixuku esikhulu sabantu sasiyosinda kulo.
7 Lababantu abayosinda, ababizwa ngokuthi “isixuku esikhulu,” baphawuleka ngezinyathelo ezithile eziwujuqu abazithathayo. NgokwesAmbulo 7:14, omunye wabadala abangu-24 ezulwini watshela uJohane: “Laba yibo abaphuma osizini olukhulu, bahlanza izingubo zabo, bazenza zaba-mhlophe egazini leWundlu.” Yebo, isixuku esikhulu sidumisa uJehova njengomthombo wensindiso yaso. Sibonisa ukholo egazini likaJesu elachitheka futhi sinokuma okulungile phambi koMdali waso neNkosi yakhe emisiwe, uJesu Kristu.
8. Ibuphi ubuhlobo obuhle obukhona phakathi ‘kwesixuku esikhulu’ nabasasele babafowabo bakaJesu abagcotshiwe?
8 Namuhla, amalungu alesisixuku esikhulu acishe abe izigidi ezinhlanu aphila ngaphansi kobuholi obuphumelelayo beNkosi yasezulwini uJesu Kristu. Ayazithoba kuKristu futhi anobudlelwane obuseduze nabafowabo abagcotshiwe abasesemhlabeni. Ngokuphathelene nempatho isixuku esikhulu esiyinikeza laba abagcotshiwe, uJesu uthi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, njengokuba nikwenzile komunye walababafowethu abancane, nikwenzile kimi.” (Mathewu 25:40) Ngenxa yokuthi banikeza abafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshiwe usizo ngokungenabugovu, labo besixuku esikhulu bahlulelwa njengabenze okuhle kuJesu ngokwakhe. Lokhu kubasiza ukuba babe nobuhlobo obulondekile noJesu Kristu noJehova uNkulunkulu. Banikwe ilungelo lokuhlanganyela nensali egcotshiwe ekubeni oFakazi bakaNkulunkulu nabaphathi begama lakhe.—Isaya 43:10, 11; Joweli 2:31, 32.
Ukuhlala Siphapheme
9, 10. (a) Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze silondoloze ukuma kwethu okulungile phambi kweNdodana yomuntu? (b) Kumelwe senzeni ukuze ‘sihlale siphapheme’?
9 Isixuku esikhulu kumelwe silondoloze ukuma kwaso okulungile phambi kweNdodana yomuntu singayeki, okudinga ukuba sihlale siqaphile kuze kube sekupheleni. UJesu wakusho ngokucacile lokhu lapho ethi: “Xwayani ukuba izinhliziyo zenu zingasindwa ngukuminza nokudakwa nokunaka okwalokhukuphila, lunizume lolosuku ningazelele, ngokuba luyakufika njengogibe phezu kwabo bonke abahlezi emhlabeni wonke. Ngakho [hlalani niphapheme, NW] ngesikhathi sonke, nikhuleke ukuba nibe-namandla okuphepha kukho konke lokhu okuyakwenzeka nawokuma phambi kweNdodana yomuntu.”—Luka 21:34-36.
10 Ukuze siphumelele ukuma phambi kweNdodana yomuntu, kumelwe sithole ukuvunyelwa yiyo, esingenakukuthola uma sizivumela ukuba sithonywe ukucabanga kwalelizwe. Ukucabanga kwezwe kuyedusa futhi kungayengela umuntu ekubeni eqise ezinjabulweni ezingokwenyama noma izinkinga zokuphila zimthene amandla kangangokuba angabe esakwazi ukugcina izithakazelo zoMbuso ziza kuqala. (Mathewu 6:33) Inkambo enjalo yenza umuntu abe buthaka ngokomoya futhi ingamenza angayinaki imithwalo yakhe yemfanelo kuNkulunkulu nakwabanye. Angase angashiseki noma afake ukuma anakho ebandleni engozini ngokwenza isono esingathi sína, mhlawumbe aze abonise ngisho nesimo sengqondo sokungaphenduki. Umuntu ngamunye esixukwini esikhulu kumelwe aziqaphele. Kumelwe azihlukanise nalelizwe elingamesabi uNkulunkulu nemikhuba yalo.—Johane 17:16.
11. Ukusebenzisa ziphi izimiso ezingokomBhalo okuyosisiza ukuba sisinde e-Armagedoni?
11 Ukuze lokho kwenzeke, uJehova ulungiselele lokho esikudingayo ngeZwi lakhe, ngomoya wakhe ongcwele, nangenhlangano yakhe ebonakalayo. Kumelwe sikusebenzise ngokugcwele lokhu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kumelwe sibe nesimo sengqondo sokuthandaza futhi silalele uNkulunkulu uma silindele ukuthola ukuvunyelwa nguye. Phakathi kokunye, kumelwe sihlakulele inzondo enamandla ngokubi. Umhubi wathi: “Angihlali nabantu bamanga, angihambelani nezimbulu. Ngiyawuzonda umhlangano wabenza okubi, angihlali nababi. Ungamukisi umphefumulo wami kanye nezoni nokuphila kwami kanye nabantu begazi.” (IHubo 26:4, 5, 9) Ebandleni lobuKristu, abasha nabadala ngokufanayo kudingeka balinganisele ukujwayelana nalabo abangazinikezele kuJehova. Ukuze sithole ukuvunyelwa uNkulunkulu, silwela ukuba abangenacala nabangenasisihla sezwe. (IHubo 26:1-5; Jakobe 1:27; 4:4) Ngakho, siyoqiniseka ngokuthi e-Armagedoni, uJehova akanakusishanela ngokufa kanye nabangamesabi uNkulunkulu.
Abanye ‘Abasoze Bafa Naphakade’
12, 13. (a) Ngaphambi kokuvusa uLazaru, imaphi amazwi uJesu awasho uMarta angazange awaqonde ngokugcwele? (b) Yini amazwi kaJesu aphathelene nokuthi abanye ‘babengasoze bafa naphakade’ ayengaqondile ukuyisho?
12 Kuyathakazelisa ukucabanga ngokusinda ekupheleni kwalesisimiso sezinto nethuba lokungafi nanini. Leli ithemba esilinikezwa uJesu. Ngaphambi nje kokuvusa umngane wakhe ofile uLazaru, uJesu watshela udadewabo kaLazaru uMarta: “Mina ngingukuvuka nokuphila; okholwa yimi, noma efa, wophila. Nalowo ophila, akholwe yimi, kasoze afa naphakade. Uyakholwa yilokho na?” UMarta wayekholelwa ovukweni, kodwa wayengakuqondi konke lokho uJesu ayekusho.—Johane 11:25, 26.
13 UJesu wayengasho ukuthi abaphostoli bakhe abathembekile babeyoqhubeka bephila enyameni futhi babengasoze bafe. Ngokuphambene, kamuva wabonisa ukuthi abafundi bakhe babezofa. (Johane 21:16-23) Empeleni, ukugcotshwa kwabo ngomoya ongcwele ngePentekoste lika-33 C.E. kwakusho ukuthi kwakuyomelwe bafe ukuze bamukele ifa labo lasezulwini njengamakhosi nabapristi. (IsAmbulo 20:4, 6) Ngakho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, wonke amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala afa. Nokho, lokho uJesu akusho wakusho ngenjongo. Amazwi akhe aphathelene nokuphila ngaphandle kokufa nanini ayogcwaliseka.
14, 15. (a) Amazwi kaJesu aphathelene nokuthi abanye ‘babengasoze bafa naphakade’ ayogcwaliseka kanjani? (b) Siyini isimo salelizwe, kodwa iliphi ithemba abalungile abanalo?
14 Phakathi kokunye, amaKristu agcotshiwe athembekile awasoze abhekana nokufa kwaphakade. (IsAmbulo 20:6) Futhi, amazwi kaJesu abhekisela esikhathini esithile esizayo lapho uNkulunkulu eyongenela ezindabeni zesintu futhi asuse ububi ngokuphelele emhlabeni, njengoba nje enza osukwini lukaNowa. Abathembekileyo abatholakala benza intando kaNkulunkulu ngalesosikhathi ngeke kudingeke ukuba bafe ngezenzo zikaNkulunkulu zokwahlulela. Kunalokho, njengoNowa nomkhaya wakhe, bayoba nethuba lokusinda ekubhujisweni kwezwe. Ithemba elinjalo liqinile, lisekelwe ezimfundisweni zeBhayibheli futhi laboniswa nangezibonelo. (Qhathanisa namaHeberu 6:19; 2 Petru 2:4-9.) Ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho seBhayibheli kubonisa ukuthi ngokushesha kakhulu izwe lamanje elinomphakathi wabantu ongalungile lizophela ngokubhujiswa. Isimo samanje asinakuhlehliswa, ngoba izwe libi ngendlela engenakulungiseka. Lokho uNkulunkulu akusho ngosuku lukaNowa kuyiqiniso futhi nangezwe lanamuhla. Ububi bugcwele ezinhliziyweni zabantu abaningi kakhulu, futhi imicabango yabo mibi njalo.—Genesise 6:5.
15 UJehova uye wavumela abantu ukuba babuse umhlaba amakhulukhulu eminyaka ngaphandle kokungenela kwaphezulu, kodwa isikhathi sabo cishe sesiphelile. Ngokushesha uJehova uzobhubhisa bonke ababi emhlabeni, njengoba nje iBhayibheli lisho. (IHubo 145:20; IzAga 2:21, 22) Nokho, akanakubhubhisa abalungile kanye nababi. UNkulunkulu akakaze ayenze into enjalo! (Qhathanisa noGenesise 18:22, 23, 26.) Angababhubhiselani labo abazama ukumkhonza ngokwethembeka, ngokwesaba uNkulunkulu? Kunengqondo nje ukuthi abakhulekeli bakaJehova abathembekile abayobe bephila lapho usizi olukhulu luqala bayothola umusa emehlweni akhe futhi abanakubhujiswa, njengoba nje uNowa nomkhaya wakhe bengabhujiswanga lapho izwe elibi losuku lwakhe lifinyelela ekupheleni okuyinhlekelele. (Genesise 7:23) Bayothola isivikelo saphezulu futhi bayosinda ekupheleni kwalelizwe.
16. Iziphi izinto ezimangalisayo eziyokwenzeka ezweni elisha, okuyosho ukuthini ngabayosinda?
16 Bese kwenzekani? Ezweni elisha, izibusiso zokuphulukisa ziyogelezela esintwini njengoba izinzuzo zomhlatshelo kaJesu wesihlengo zisetshenziswa ngokugcwele. IBhayibheli likhuluma ‘ngomfula wamanzi okuphila’ ongokomfanekiso ‘ocwebezela njengekristalu, ovela esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu neseWundlu. Phakathi kwesitaladi sawo nomfula emaceleni omabili kukhona umuthi wokuphila, uthela izithelo eziyishumi nambili, uthela izithelo zawo izinyanga ngezinyanga, namaqabunga omuthi angawokuphulukisa izizwe.’ (IsAmbulo 22:1, 2) Kuyamangalisa ukusho ukuthi ‘ukuphulukisa’ kuhlanganisa nokunqoba ukufa okwazuzwa ku-Adamu ngokwakho! “Uyakugwinya ukufa kuze kube-phakade; iNkosi uJehova iyakwesula izinyembezi ebusweni bonke.” (Isaya 25:8) Ngakho, labo abasinda osizini olukhulu bangene ezweni elisha akudingekile neze ukuba babhekane nokufa!
Ithemba Eliqinisekile
17. Liqiniseke kangakanani ithemba lokuthi abanye bayosinda e-Armagedoni futhi ‘abasoze bafa naphakade’?
17 Singathembela yini ngokugcwele kulelithemba elivusa amadlingozi? Ngokuqinisekile! UJesu wabonisa kuMarta ukuthi kwakuyoba nesikhathi lapho abantu babeyophila bangafi nanini. (Johane 11:26) Ngaphezu kwalokho, esahlukweni 7 sesAmbulo uJesu asinikeza uJohane, kwembulwa ukuthi isixuku esikhulu siphuma osizini olukhulu, sisinde kulo. Singamkholelwa yini uJesu Kristu nokulandisa okungokomlando kukaZamcolo wosuku lukaNowa? Ngokungangabazeki! Ngaphezu kwalokho, iBhayibheli linokunye ukulandisa kwezenzakalo lapho uNkulunkulu elondoloza khona izinceku zakhe ngezikhathi zokwahlulela nokuwa kwezizwe. Ingabe akufanele yini silindele ukuba enze okufanayo kulesisikhathi sokuphela? Kukhona yini uMdali angenakukwazi ukukwenza?—Qhathanisa noMathewu 19:26.
18. Singaqiniseka kanjani ngokuphila ezweni elisha lokulunga likaJehova?
18 Ngokukhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka manje, sinesiqinisekiso sokuphila okuphakade ezweni lakhe elisha. Ngezigidi ezingenakubalwa, ukuphila kulelozwe elisha kuyokuza ngovuko. Nokho, osukwini lwethu, izigidi zabantu bakaJehova—yebo, isixuku esikhulu esingenakubalwa-muntu noma silinganiselwe—ziyoba nelungelo eliyingqayizivele lokusinda ziphila zidlule osizini olukhulu. Futhi ngeke neze kudingeke zife.
Ake Uchaze
◻ Ukusinda e-Armagedoni kwafanekiselwa kanjani osukwini lukaNowa?
◻ Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze siqhubeke simile lapho uJesu ezokhipha izahlulelo zikaJehova?
◻ Kungani singase sithi abayosinda e-Armagedoni akudingekile ‘neze ukuba bafe naphakade’?
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
AmaKristu asinda osizini lwaseJerusalema