Ingabe Ululungele Usuku LukaJehova?

“Usuku olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze; luseduze, lushesha kakhulu.”—ZEFANIYA 1:14.

 1. ImiBhalo iluchaza kanjani usuku lukaJehova?

MADUZE NJE “usuku olukhulu nolwesabekayo” lukaJehova luzofika kulesi simiso esibi sezinto. ImiBhalo ichaza usuku lukaJehova njengolwempi, ubumnyama, intukuthelo, ukucindezeleka, usizi, ukushaqeka nencithakalo. Nokho, bakhona abayosinda, ngoba ‘bonke ababiza igama likaJehova bayokhululwa.’ (Joweli 2:30-32; Amose 5:18-20) Yebo, ngaleso sikhathi uNkulunkulu uyobhubhisa izitha zakhe asindise abantu bakhe.

 2. Kungani kufanele sibe nomuzwa wokuphuthuma ngosuku lukaJehova?

² Abaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu babenomuzwa wokuphuthuma ngosuku lukaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, uZefaniya wabhala: “Usuku olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze; luseduze, lushesha kakhulu.” (Zefaniya 1:14) Isimo siphuthuma nakakhulu namuhla ngoba sekuseduze ukuba uMahluleli kaNkulunkulu Oyinhloko, iNkosi uJesu Kristu, ‘abophele inkemba yakhe okhalweni lwakhe futhi aqhubeke ngenxa yeqiniso nokuthobeka nokulunga.’ (IHubo 45:3, 4) Ingabe ululungele lolo suku?

Babelindele Okukhulu

 3. Yimaphi amathemba amanye amaKristu aseThesalonika ayenawo, futhi ayenephutha ngaziphi izizathu ezimbili?

³ Abaningi baye baba namathemba angazange afezeke ngokuqondene nosuku lukaJehova. Amanye amaKristu okuqala eThesalonika ayethi, “Usuku lukaJehova selufikile!” (2 Thesalonika 2:2) Kodwa kwakunezizathu ezimbili eziyisisekelo zokuthi lwalungakabi seduze. Ephawula esinye sazo, umphostoli uPawulu wayethé: “Noma nini lapho bethi khona: ‘Ukuthula nokulondeka!’ khona-ke imbubhiso engazelelwe iyofika ngaso lesosikhathi phezu kwabo.” (1 Thesalonika 5:1-6) Kulesi “sikhathi sokuphela,” thina ngokwethu silindele ukugcwaliseka kwalawo mazwi. (Daniyeli 12:4) Kunobunye futhi ubufakazi abaseThesalonika ababengenabo bokuthi usuku olukhulu lukaJehova lwase lufikile, ngoba uPawulu wabatshela: “Ngeke lufike ukuhlubuka kungakafiki kuqala.” (2 Thesalonika 2:3) Lapho uPawulu ebhala lawo mazwi (cishe ngo-51 C.E.), “ukuhlubuka” okuvela kumaKristu eqiniso kwakungakaphumeli obala. Namuhla sikubona ngokucacile kweLobukholwa. Nokho, naphezu kwamathemba abo angazange agcwaliseke, labo abagcotshiwe abakholekile eThesalonika, abaqhubeka bekhonza uNkulunkulu ngokukholeka kwaze kwaba sekufeni, ekugcineni bathola umvuzo wasezulwini. (IsAmbulo 2:10) Nathi siyovuzwa uma sihlala sikholekile njengoba silindele usuku lukaJehova.

 4. (a) Kweyesi-2 Thesalonika 2:1, 2 usuku lukaJehova luhlotshaniswa nani? (b) Labo okuthiwa oFata beSonto babenamiphi imibono ngokubuya kukaKristu nangezindaba ezihlobene nako?

⁴ IBhayibheli lihlobanisa “usuku olukhulu lukaJehova” “nokuba khona kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.” (2 Thesalonika 2:1, 2) Labo okuthiwa oFata beSonto babenemibono ehlukahlukene ngokubuya kukaKristu, ukuba khona kwakhe nokuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane kwakhe. (IsAmbulo 20:4) Ngekhulu lesibili C.E., uPapias waseHiyerapholi wayelindele ukuzalwa komhlaba okumangalisayo phakathi nokuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane kukaKristu. UJustin Martyr wakhuluma ngokuphindaphindiwe ngokuba khona kukaJesu futhi wayelindele ukuba iJerusalema elibuyiselwe libe ikomkhulu loMbuso waKhe. U-Irenæus waseLyons wafundisa ukuthi ngemva kokubhujiswa koMbuso waseRoma, uJesu wayezovela ngokubonakalayo, abophe uSathane, futhi abuse eJerusalema lasemhlabeni.

 5. Izazi ezithile ziye zathini ‘ngoKufika Kwesibili’ kukaKristu nokuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane kwakhe?

⁵ Isazi-mlando uPhilip Schaff saphawula ukuthi “inkolelo eyayivelele kakhulu” enkathini engaphambi koMkhandlu WaseNicaea ngo-325 C.E. “kwakuyinkolelo yokubusa kukaKristu okubonakalayo ngenkazimulo emhlabeni kanye nosanta abavusiwe iminyaka eyinkulungwane, ngaphambi kokuvuswa kwabanye nokwahlulela.” I-Dictionary of the Bible, eyahlelwa uJames Hastings, ithi: “UTertullian, u-Irenæus noHippolytus basabheke uKufika [kukaJesu Kristu] maduze nje; kodwa ngenxa yoFata base-Alexandria siba nombono omusha. . . . Ukuhlobanisa kuka-Augustine ukuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane nenkathi yokulwa kweSonto, kwenza uKufika Kwesibili kuhlehliselwe esikhathini esikude esizayo.”

Usuku LukaJehova Nokuba Khona KukaJesu

 6. Kungani kungafanele siphethe ngokuthi usuku lukaJehova lusekude?

⁶ Imibono eyiphutha iye yaholela ekudumazekeni, kodwa masingacabangi ukuthi usuku lukaJehova lusekude. Ukuba khona kukaJesu okungabonakali, imiBhalo ekuhlanganisa nalo, sekuqalile kakade. INqabayokulinda nezinye izincwadi zoFakazi BakaJehova ezihambisana nayo kukaningi zinikeza ubufakazi obungokomBhalo bokuthi ukuba khona kukaKristu kwaqala ngonyaka ka-1914.a Ngakho-ke, uJesu wathini ngokuba khona kwakhe?

 7. (a) Yiziphi ezinye izici zesibonakaliso sokuba khona kukaJesu nezesiphelo sesimiso sezinto? (b) Singasindiswa kanjani?

⁷ Ukuba khona kukaJesu kwaba sematheni ngaphambi nje kokufa kwakhe. Ngemva kokumuzwa ebikezela ngokubhujiswa kwethempeli laseJerusalema, abaphostoli bakhe, uPetru, uJakobe, uJohane no-Andreya babuza: “Ziyokwenzeka nini lezizinto, futhi siyoba yini isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakho nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto?” (Mathewu 24:1-3; Marku 13:3, 4) Ephendula, uJesu wabikezela izimpi, indlala, ukuzamazama komhlaba nezinye izici ‘zesibonakaliso’ sokuba khona kwakhe nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto. Wathi futhi: “Lowo oye wakhuthazela kwaze kwaba sekupheleni nguye oyosindiswa.” (Mathewu 24:13) Uma sikhuthazela ngokukholeka kuze kube sekupheleni kokuphila kwethu kwamanje noma ekupheleni kwalesi simiso esibi siyosindiswa.

 8. Ngaphambi kokuphela kwesimiso samaJuda, yini okwakufanele ifezwe, futhi yini eyenziwayo ngalokhu namuhla?

⁸ Ngaphambi kokuphela, kuyogcwaliseka isici sokuba khona kukaJesu esibaluleke ngokukhethekile. Ngaso, wathi: “Lezizindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiweyo ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.” (Mathewu 24:14) Ngaphambi kokuba amaRoma abhubhise iJerusalema nesimiso sobuJuda siphele ngo-70 C.E., uPawulu wayengathi izindaba ezinhle “zashunyayelwa kuyo yonke indalo engaphansi kwezulu.” (Kolose 1:23) Nokho, namuhla oFakazi BakaJehova benza umsebenzi wokushumayela ngezinga elikhulu kakhulu “emhlabeni wonke owakhiweyo.” Eminyakeni embalwa edlule, uNkulunkulu uye wavula indlela yokuba kunikezwe ubufakazi obukhulu eMpumalanga Yurophu. Njengoba inezindawo zokunyathelisa nezinye izakhiwo emhlabeni wonke, inhlangano kaJehova ilungele umsebenzi owengeziwe, ngisho ‘nasendaweni engathintiwe.’ (Roma 15:22, 23) Ingabe inhliziyo yakho ikushukumisela ukuba wenze konke okusemandleni akho ekunikezeni ubufakazi ngaphambi kokuba ukuphela kufike? Uma kunjalo, uNkulunkulu angakuqinisa ukuba ube nengxenye enomvuzo emsebenzini ongaphambili.—Filipi 4:13; 2 Thimothewu 4:17.

 9. UJesu waveza liphi iphuzu, njengoba kulotshwe kuMathewu 24:36?

⁹ Umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso owabikezelwa, nezinye izici zesibonakaliso sokuba khona kukaJesu kuyagcwaliseka manje. Ngakho, ukuphela kwalesi simiso esibi sezinto kuseduze. Yiqiniso, uJesu wathi: “Ngokuphathelene nalolosuku nalelohora akekho owaziyo, nazingelosi zasemazulwini naNdodana, kodwa uBaba kuphela.” (Mathewu 24:4-14, 36) Kodwa isiprofetho sikaJesu singasisiza ukuba silulungele “lolosuku nalelohora.”

Babelulungele

10. Sazi kanjani ukuthi kungenzeka ukuhlala siphapheme ngokomoya?

¹⁰ Ukuze sisinde osukwini olukhulu lukaJehova, kumelwe sihlale siphapheme ngokomoya futhi sikumelele ngokuqinile ukukhulekela kweqiniso. (1 Korinte 16:13) Siyazi ukuthi ukukhuthazela okunjalo kungenzeka, ngoba umkhaya ohlonipha uNkulunkulu wenza kanjalo futhi wasinda kuZamcolo owabhubhisa abantu ababi ngo-2370 B.C.E. Eqhathanisa leyo nkathi nokuba khona kwakhe, uJesu wathi: “Njengoba nje zazinjalo izinsuku zikaNowa, kuyoba njalo nokuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu. Ngoba njengoba babenjalo ngalezozinsuku zangaphambi kwesikhukhula, bedla futhi bephuza, amadoda eshada futhi abesifazane bendiswa, kwaze kwaba usuku uNowa angena ngalo emkhunjini; futhi abanakanga kwaze kwafika isikhukhula, sabakhukhula bonke, kuyoba njalo nokuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu.”—Mathewu 24:37-39.

11. Iyiphi inkambo uNowa ayiphishekela naphezu kobudlova obabukhona esikhathini sakhe?

¹¹ UNowa nomkhaya wakhe babephila ezweni elinobudlova, njengathi. “Amadodana kaNkulunkulu” ayizingelosi angalaleli ayeziguqule abantu futhi athatha abafazi abawazalela amaNefili—iziqhwaga ngokungangabazeki ezenza izimo zaba nobudlova nakakhulu. (Genesise 6:1, 2, 4; 1 Petru 3:19, 20) Nokho, “uNowa wayehamba noNkulunkulu” ngokholo. ‘Wayengenacala esizukulwaneni sakhe’—abantu ababi bosuku lwakhe. (Genesise 6:9-11) Ngokuncika kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo, singenza okufanayo kulelizwe elinobudlova nelibi njengoba silindele usuku lukaJehova.

12. (a) Ngaphandle kokwakha umkhumbi, uNowa wenza muphi umsebenzi? (b) Abantu basabela kanjani ekushumayeleni kukaNowa, futhi babhekana namuphi umphumela?

¹² UNowa waziwa kahle njengomakhi womkhumbi wokulondoloza ukuphila ngoZamcolo. Futhi ‘wayengumshumayeli wokulunga,’ kodwa abantu ayephila nabo ‘abazange basinake’ isigijimi sakhe ayesinikwe uNkulunkulu. Babedla bephuza, beshada, beba nemikhaya, futhi baqhubeka nendlela yabo yokuphila evamile kwaze kwaba yilapho uZamcolo ubakhukhula bonke. (2 Petru 2:5; Genesise 6:14) Abazange bafune ukuzwa ngenkulumo nangokuziphatha okuqotho, njengoba nje nesizukulwane esibi sanamuhla singafuni nokukuzwa okushiwo oFakazi BakaJehova ‘ngokuphendukela kuNkulunkulu,’ ukholo kuKristu, ukulunga “nokwahlulela okuzayo.” (IzEnzo 20:20, 21; 24:24, 25) Akukho mbhalo wokuthi bangaki abantu ababephila emhlabeni lapho uNowa ememezela isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu. Kodwa inye into esiqiniseka ngayo, inani labantu abasemhlabeni lancipha kakhulu ngo-2370 B.C.E.! UZamcolo washanela ababi, kwasinda kuphela labo ababesilungele leso sinyathelo sikaNkulunkulu—uNowa nabanye abangu-7 emkhayeni wakhe.—Genesise 7:19-23; 2 Petru 3:5, 6.

13. Yisiphi isahlulelo uNowa abeka ithemba ngokuphelele kuso, futhi wenza kanjani ngokuvumelana nalokhu?

¹³ UNkulunkulu akazange atshele uNowa kusasele iminyaka ngaphambili ngosuku nehora eliqondile lokufika kukaZamcolo. Nokho, lapho uNowa eneminyaka engu-480 ubudala, uJehova wamemezela: “UMoya wami awuyikubusa njalo kumuntu, njengokuba eyinyama nje; izinsuku zakhe ziyakuba-yiminyaka eyikhulu namashumi amabili.” (Genesise 6:3) UNowa wabeka ithemba ngokuphelele kulesi sahlulelo saphezulu. Lapho esefinyelele iminyaka engu-500, “wazala oShemi, noHamu, noJafete,” futhi isiko langaleso sikhathi lisikisela ukuthi kwadlula iminyaka engu-50 kuya kwengu-60 ngaphambi kokuba amadodana akhe ashade. Lapho uNowa etshelwa ukuthi akhe umkhumbi wokulondoloza ukuphila ngoZamcolo, ngokusobala lawo madodana nomkawo amsiza kulowo msebenzi. Ukwakhiwa komkhumbi cishe kwahambisana nenkonzo kaNowa ‘njengomshumayeli wokulunga,’ eyamgcina ematasa iminyaka yokugcina engu-40 kuya kwengu-50 ngaphambi kukaZamcolo. (Genesise 5:32; 6:13-22) Kuyo yonke leyo minyaka, yena nomkhaya wakhe babonisa ukholo. Nathi masibonise ukholo njengoba sishumayela izindaba ezinhle futhi silindele usuku lukaJehova.—Heberu 11:7.

14. UJehova wamtshelani uNowa ekugcineni, futhi ngani?

¹⁴ Njengoba umkhumbi wawusondela ekupheleni, kungenzeka uNowa wacabanga ukuthi uZamcolo ususemnyango, nakuba ayengazi ngokuqondile ukuthi wawuyofika nini. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJehova wamtshela: “Emva kwezinsuku eziyisikhombisa ngiyakunisa imvula emhlabeni izinsuku ezingamashumi amane nobusuku obungamashumi amane.” (Genesise 7:4) Lokho kwanika uNowa nomkhaya wakhe isikhathi esanele sokufaka zonke izinhlobo zezilwane emkhunjini nabo bangene ngaphambi kokuba kuqale uZamcolo. Akudingekile ukuba sazi usuku nehora lokuqala kwembubhiso yalesi simiso sezinto; asabelwanga ukusindisa izilwane, futhi abantu abasethubeni lokusinda sebeyangena kakade emkhunjini ongokomfanekiso, ipharadesi elingokomoya labantu bakaNkulunkulu.

“Hlalani Nilindile”

15. (a) Ngamazwi akho, ungawachaza kanjani amazwi kaJesu atholakala kuMathewu 24:40-44? (b) Ukungasazi isikhathi esiqondile uJesu ayokuza ngaso ezoletha impindiselo kaNkulunkulu kunamuphi umphumela?

¹⁵ Ngokuqondene nokuba khona kwakhe, uJesu wachaza: “Khona-ke amadoda amabili ayobe [esebenza] ensimini: enye iyothathwa, enye ishiywe; abesifazane ababili bayobe begaya [okusanhlamvu bekwenza impuphu] esigayweni sesandla: omunye uyothathwa, omunye ashiywe. Ngakho-ke, hlalani nilindile ngoba anazi ukuthi iNkosi yenu iza ngaluphi usuku. Kodwa yazini into eyodwa, ukuthi ukuba umninindlu wayazi ukuthi isela lizoza ngamuphi umlindo, wayeyohlala ephapheme futhi angayivumeli indlu yakhe ukuba igqekezwe. Ngenxa yalokhu nani futhi zibonakaliseni nikulungele, ngoba iNdodana yomuntu iza ngehora eningacabangi ukuthi iyoza ngalo.” (Mathewu 24:40-44; Luka 17:34, 35) Ukungasazi isikhathi esiqondile uJesu ayokuza ngaso ezoletha impindiselo kaNkulunkulu kusenza sihlale siqaphile futhi kusinika ithuba lokuba nsuku zonke sibonise ukuthi uJehova asimkhonzi ngezisusa zobugovu.

16. Kuyokwenzekani kubantu ‘abayoshiywa’ nakulabo ‘abayothathwa’?

¹⁶ Abantu ‘abayoshiywa’ ukuze babhujiswe nababi bayohlanganisa nalabo abake bakhanyiselwa kodwa abathathwa indlela yokuphila yobugovu. Kwangathi singaba phakathi kwalabo ‘abayothathwa,’ labo abazinikele ngokugcwele kuJehova futhi abawazisa ngempela amalungiselelo akhe angokomoya ‘ngesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo.’ (Mathewu 24:45-47) Masikhonze uNkulunkulu ‘ngothando oluvela enhliziyweni ehlanzekileyo nakunembeza omuhle nasokholweni olungenabuzenzisi,’ kuze kube sekupheleni.—1 Thimothewu 1:5.

Kudingeka Imisebenzi Engcwele

17. (a) Yini eyabikezelwa kweyesi-2 Petru 3:10? (b) Yimiphi eminye imisebenzi ekhuthazwa kweyesi-2 Petru 3:11?

¹⁷ Umphostoli uPetru wabhala: “Usuku lukaJehova luyofika njengesela, okuyodlula ngalo amazulu ngomsindo ohazayo, kodwa izakhi njengoba ziyobe zishisa kakhulu ziyoncibilika, futhi umhlaba nemisebenzi ekuwo kuyokwambulwa.” (2 Petru 3:10) Amazulu nomhlaba okungokomfanekiso ngeke kusinde ekushiseni kwentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu evuthayo. Ngakho uPetru uyanezela: “Njengoba zonke lezizinto ziyoncibilika kanjalo, luhlobo luni lwabantu okufanele nibe yilo ezenzweni zokuziphatha ezingcwele nasezenzweni zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu!” (2 Petru 3:11) Lezi zenzo zihlanganisa nokuba khona njalo emihlanganweni yobuKristu, ukwenza okuhle kwabanye, nokuba nengxenye ebalulekile ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle.—Mathewu 24:14; Heberu 10:24, 25; 13:16.

18. Uma sesisondelana nalelizwe, kufanele senzeni?

¹⁸ ‘Izenzo zokuziphatha ezingcwele nezenzo zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu’ zidinga ukuba ‘sizigcine singenalo ibala elivela ezweni.’ (Jakobe 1:27) Kodwa kuthiwani uma sesisondelana nalelizwe? Mhlawumbe siyengelwa ekubeni sibe sesimweni esiyingozi phambi kukaNkulunkulu ngokufuna ukuzijabulisa okungcolile noma ngokulalela umculo nezingoma ezikhuthaza umoya walelizwe wokungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu. (2 Korinte 6:14-18) Uma kunjalo, masifune usizo lukaNkulunkulu ngomthandazo ukuze singadluli nezwe kodwa sihlale samukelekile phambi kweNdodana yomuntu. (Luka 21:34-36; 1 Johane 2:15-17) Uma siye sazinikezela kuNkulunkulu, ngokuqinisekile siyofuna ukwenza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuze sakhe futhi silondoloze ubuhlobo obuhle naye futhi ngaleyo ndlela silungele usuku lukaJehova olukhulu nolwesabekayo.

19. Kungani uquqaba lwabamemezeli boMbuso lungalindela ukuphila ludlulele ngalé kwesiphelo salesi simiso sezinto esibi?

¹⁹ UNowa ohlonipha uNkulunkulu kanye nomkhaya wakhe basinda kuZamcolo owabhubhisa izwe lasendulo. Abantu abaqotho basinda ekupheleni kwesimiso sezinto samaJuda ngo-70 C.E. Ngokwesibonelo, umphostoli uJohane wayesakhuthele enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu cishe ngo-96-98 C.E., lapho ebhala incwadi yesAmbulo, ukulandisa kwakhe kweVangeli nezincwadi ezintathu eziphefumulelwe. Ezinkulungwaneni ezamukela inkolo yeqiniso ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., cishe abaningi basinda ekupheleni kwesimiso samaJuda. (IzEnzo 1:15; 2:41, 47; 4:4) Namuhla uquqaba lwabamemezeli boMbuso lungaba nethemba lokuphila kuze kube ngalé kwesiphelo sesimiso sezinto esibi samanje.

20. Kungani kufanele sibe ‘abashumayeli bokulunga’ abashisekayo?

²⁰ Njengoba sinethemba lokulondolozwa singene ezweni elisha, masibe ‘abashumayeli bokulunga’ abashisekayo. Yeka ukuthi kuyilungelo elingakanani ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kulezi zinsuku zokugcina! Futhi yeka ukuthi kujabulisa kangakanani ukuqondisa abantu ‘emkhunjini’ wosuku lwanamuhla, ipharadesi elingokomoya elijatshulelwa abantu bakaNkulunkulu! Kwangathi izigidi ezikulo manje zingahlala zikholekile, ziphapheme ngokomoya, futhi zilungele usuku olukhulu lukaJehova. Kodwa yini eyosisiza sonke ukuba sihlale siphapheme?

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Ungaphendula Kanjani?

◻ Yimaphi amathemba abanye ababa nawo ngosuku lukaJehova nokuba khona kukaKristu?

◻ Kungani singathi uNowa nomkhaya wakhe babewulungele uZamcolo?

◻ Kuyokwenzekani kulabo ‘abahlala belindile’ nakulabo abangalindile?

◻ Kungani imisebenzi engcwele ibalulekile, ikakhulukazi njengoba sesisondele osukwini lukaJehova olukhulu?