Ingabe Lezi Izinsuku Zokugcina Ngempela?

UHLEZI ngaphambili esikejaneni njengoba singena lapho umfula ugubha khona. Kuvela amadwala amakhulu phakathi kwegwebu elikhihlikayo namanzi afazayo. Uzama ukugwedla usuke kuwo. Lomuntu ongemva kwakho bekufanele akusize niqondise lesi sikebhe, kodwa kuncane akwaziyo. Okubi nakakhulu, awunabalazwe, ngakho awazi ukuthi lobu buhhudluhhudlu buzoholela echibini elizolile yini noma empophomeni.

Akusona isimo esimnandi, akunjalo? Ngakho ake sisishintshe. Zicabange unomqondisi onolwazi, owazi idwala nedwala kulomfula, ijika nejika. Ubazi kusekude kakhulu ukuthi nizofika kulendawo emagebhugebhu, uyazi ukuthi izoholelaphi, uyayazi nendlela ephephile yokudlula kuyo. Ubungeke yini uzizwe ulondeke kakhulu?

Empeleni sonke sisotakwini olufanayo. Sizithola sisenkathini egubhayo emlandweni wesintu, kungelona iphutha lethu. Iningi labantu alazi ukuthi izinto zizoqhubeka zinjena isikhathi esingakanani, ukuthi izimo zizoba ngcono yini, noma ukuthi iyiphi indlela engcono kakhulu yokusinda okwamanje. Kodwa akudingeki sizizwe silahliwe noma singenakusizakala. UMdali wethu uye wasinikeza umqondisi—owabikezela lenkathi yobumnyama emlandweni, obikezela indlela ezophela ngayo nosinikeza isiqondiso esisidingayo ukuze sisinde. Lowo mqondisi yincwadi, iBhayibheli. UMlobi walo, uJehova uNkulunkulu, uzibiza ngokuthi unguMfundisi Omkhulu Kakhulu, futhi ngo-Isaya ukhuluma ngokuqinisekisayo: “Nezindlebe zakho ziyakuzwa izwi emva kwakho, lithi: Nansi indlela; hambani ngayo, noma niphambuka ngakwesokunene, noma niphambuka ngakwesokhohlo.” (Isaya 30:20, 21) Ungasamukela isiqondiso esinjalo? Khona-ke ake sihlole ukuthi iBhayibheli lakubikezela ngempela yini ukuthi izinsuku zethu zaziyoba njani.

Abalandeli BakaJesu Babuza Umbuzo Onengqondo

Kumelwe ukuba abalandeli bakaJesu babemangele. UJesu wayesanda kubatshela ngamazwi acacile ukuthi izakhiwo zethempeli laseJerusalema ezihlaba umxhwele zaziyobhujiswa ngokuphelele! Ukubikezela okunjalo kwakumangaza. Ngemva nje kwalokho, lapho behlezi eNtabeni Yeminqumo, abane kubafundi babuza uJesu: “Sitshele, Ziyokwenzeka nini lezizinto, futhi siyoba yini isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakho nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto?” (Mathewu 24:3; Marku 13:1-4) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi babekuqaphela noma cha, impendulo kaJesu yayiyosebenza kaningana.

Ukubhujiswa kwethempeli laseJerusalema nokuphela kwesimiso sezinto sobuJuda kwakungafani nesikhathi sokuba khona kukaKristu nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto sezwe lonke. Nokho, empendulweni yakhe ende, uJesu wasingatha ngobuciko zonke lezi zici zombuzo. Wabatshela ukuthi izinto zaziyoba njani ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema; wabatshela nokuthi babengalindela ukuba izwe libe njani phakathi nokuba khona kwakhe, lapho eyobe ebusa njengeNkosi ezulwini futhi sekuseduze ukuba aphelise isimiso sezinto sezwe lonke.

Ukuphela KweJerusalema

Cabanga kuqala ngalokho uJesu akusho ngeJerusalema nethempeli lalo. Kusasele iminyaka engaphezu kwamashumi amathathu, wabikezela ukuthi kwakuzoba khona isikhathi sezinkinga ezesabekayo komunye wemizi emikhulu kunayo yonke emhlabeni. Phawula ngokukhethekile amazwi akhe alotshwe kuLuka 21:20, 21: “Lapho nibona iJerusalema lihaqwe amabutho akanisile, khona-ke yazini ukuthi ukuchithwa kwalo sekusondele. Khona-ke labo abaseJudiya mabaqale ukubalekela ezintabeni, futhi labo abaphakathi kwalo mabasuke, futhi labo abasemaphandleni mabangangeni kulo.” Uma iJerusalema laliyohaqwa, lizungezwe amabutho akanisile, “labo abaphakathi kwalo” babeyokwenza kanjani ukuba bamane “basuke,” njengoba uJesu ayeyalile? Kuyacaca ukuthi uJesu wayesikisela ukuthi kwakuyovuleka ithuba elithile. Ingabe lavuleka?

Ngo-66 C.E., amabutho amaRoma eqondiswa uCestius Gallus ayedudulele amabutho amaJuda avukelayo emuva eJerusalema futhi awavimbezela kulomuzi. AmaRoma aze afohla angena emzini uqobo afinyelela ngisho nasodongeni lwethempeli. Kodwa uGallus wabe eseyala amabutho akhe ukuba enze into exaka ngempela. Wawayala ukuba ahoxe! Amasosha angamaJuda ayejabule aphuma azixosha futhi azilimaza izitha zawo ezingamaRoma ezase zibaleka. Kanjalo, kwavuleka ithuba uJesu ayelibikezele. AmaKristu eqiniso asilalela isixwayiso sakhe futhi aphuma eJerusalema. Kwaba ukuhlakanipha, ngoba eminyakeni emine nje kamuva, amabutho amaRoma abuya, eholwa uJenene Titus. Kwakungekho ukuphunyula kulokhu.

Amabutho amaRoma aphinde ahaqa iJerusalema; akha uthango ngezigxobo ezicijile nxazonke zalo. UJesu wayeprofethe lokhu ngokuqondene neJerusalema: “Uzofikelwa izinsuku lapho izitha zakho zizokwakha nxazonke zakho uthango ngezigxobo ezicijile zikuzungeze futhi zikucindezele nhlangothi zonke.”a (Luka 19:43) Kungekudala, iJerusalema lawa; ithempeli lalo elikhazimulayo laba imvithi ethunqayo. Amazwi kaJesu agcwaliseka ngazo zonke izici!

Nokho, uJesu wayecabanga ngokukhulu kakhulu kunalokho kubhujiswa kweJerusalema. Abafundi bakhe babembuze nangesibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe. Ngaleso sikhathi babengazi, kodwa lokhu kwakubhekisela esikhathini lapho ayeyomiswa ukuba abuse njengeNkosi ezulwini. Yini ayibikezela?

Impi Ezinsukwini Zokugcina

Uma ufunda uMathewu izahluko 24 no-25, uMarku isahluko 13 noLuka isahluko 21, uzobona ubufakazi obuqand’ikhanda bokuthi uJesu wayekhuluma ngenkathi yethu siqu. Wabikezela isikhathi sezimpi—hhayi nje ‘izimpi nemibiko yezimpi’ obekulokhu konakalisa umlando wabantu kodwa izimpi ezihilela ‘isizwe esivukela isizwe nombuso ovukela umbuso’—yebo, izimpi ezinkulu zomhlaba wonke.—Mathewu 24:6-8.

Ake uthi ukucabanga ngendlela impi eye yashintsha ngayo ekhulwini lethu leminyaka. Lapho impi yayisho nje kuphela ukubambana ngezihluthu kwamabutho amelela izizwe ezimbili eziphikisanayo, egencana ngezinkemba noma edubulana nangezibhamu enkundleni yempi kwakukubi kona. Kodwa ngo-1914 kwagqashuka iMpi Enkulu. Izizwe zangena empini zilandelana njengokungathi ziyathelelana—kwakuyimpi yokuqala yembulunga yonke. Kwaklanywa izikhali ezizishintshayo zokubulala abantu abaningi ngokwengeziwe ebangeni elide kakhudlwana. Izibhamu ezingontuluntulu zaqhulula izinhlamvu zingasinisi mahleza; uketshezi i-mustard gas lwashisa, lwanjunjuthekisa, lwagoga futhi lwabulala izinkulungwane zamasosha; ombayimbayi babevungama bedabula ezitheni bengenasihe, izinhlokohlela zezibhamu zabo zivutha bhé. Kwasetshenziswa nezindiza nemikhumbi-ngwenya—kumane nje kuyizandulela zalokho okwakusazoba yikho.

IMpi Yezwe II yenza into engacabangeki—yayenza ize ngempela impi eyayandulele, yabulala izigidi eziningi zabantu. Imikhumbi emikhulukazi ethwala izindiza, esamadolobha antantayo, yadabula izilwandle futhi yakhulula izindiza zempi ukuze ziyonethisa ukufa okuvela esibhakabhakeni phezu kwezitha. Imikhumbi-ngwenya yadubula futhi yacwilisa imikhumbi yezitha. Kwadedelwa namabhomu e-athomu ayethatha ukuphila okuyizinkulungwane ngegalelo ngalinye elibhubhisayo! Njengoba nje uJesu abikezela, ngempela kuye kwaba khona “imibono eyesabekayo” ephawula lenkathi yempi.—Luka 21:11.

Ingabe impi iye yadamba ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II? Cha. Ngezinye izikhathi kulwiwa inqwaba yezimpi ngonyaka owodwa—ngisho nakuleli shumi leminyaka lawo-1990—ezithatha ukuphila kwabantu okubalelwa ezigidini. Futhi kuye kwaba noshintsho ezisulwini eziyinhloko zempi. Abafayo akusabi amasosha ikakhulukazi. Namuhla, iningi lezisulu zempi—eqinisweni, amaphesenti angaphezu kuka-90 azo—liyizakhamuzi.

Ezinye Izici Zesibonakaliso

Impi imane iyisici esisodwa sesibonakaliso esashiwo uJesu. Waxwayisa nangokuthi kwakuyoba khona “ukuswelakala kokudla.” (Mathewu 24:7) Futhi kuye kwaba njalo, nakuba ngokudidayo umhlaba ukhiqiza ukudla okungaphezu kokudingekayo ukuze kondliwe sonke isintu, nakuba isayensi yezolimo ithuthuke kakhulu kunanini emlandweni wesintu, nakuba izindlela zokuthutha ezisheshayo nezongayo zitholakala ukuze zithuthele ukudla kunoma iyiphi indawo emhlabeni. Naphezu kwakho konke lokho, cishe ingxenye yabantu eyodwa kwezinhlanu kulomhlaba iyalamba nsuku zonke.

UJesu wabikezela nokuthi “ezindaweni ngezindawo” kwakuyoba khona “izifo eziwumshayabhuqe.” (Luka 21:11) Nakulokhu, inkathi yethu iye yaba nendida exakayo—ukwelashwa okungcono kunanini ngaphambili, intuthuko yezobuchwepheshe, ukugonyelwa izifo eziningi ezivamile; nokho izifo eziwumshayabhuqe nazo ziye zadlondlobala ngendlela engakaze ibonwe ngaphambili. UMkhuhlane WaseSpain wayilandela ezithendeni iMpi Yezwe I futhi wathatha ukuphila kwabantu abangaphezu kwabafa empini. Lesi sifo sasithathelwana kangangokuthi emadolobheni anjengeNew York, abantu babengase bahlawuliswe noma baboshwe ngenxa nje yokuthimula! Namuhla, umdlavuza nesifo senhliziyo kuthatha izigidi zokuphila kwabantu unyaka ngamunye—izifo eziwumshayabhuqe uqobo lwazo. Futhi ingculaza iyaqhubeka iceka ukuphila kwabantu, ngokuyisisekelo isayensi yezokwelapha ayiyenzi lutho.

Nakuba uJesu axoxa ngezinsuku zokugcina ikakhulukazi ngokuqondene nezimo ezikhukhulayo ezingokomlando nezombangazwe, umphostoli uPawulu wagxila kakhudlwana ezinkingeni zenhlalo nezimo zengqondo ezaziyodlanga. Ngokwengxenye, wabhala: “Yazi lokhu, ukuthi ezinsukwini zokugcina kuyofika izikhathi ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo. Ngoba abantu bayoba abazithandayo, . . . abangathembekile, abangenakho ukusondelana ngokomzwelo okungokwemvelo, abangafuni sivumelwano, . . . abangenakho ukuzithiba, abanolaka, abangenalo uthando ngobuhle, abakhapheli, abanenkani, abakhukhumele ngokuziqhenya, abathandi bezinjabulo kunokuba abathandi bakaNkulunkulu.”—2 Thimothewu 3:1-5.

Ingabe lawo mazwi akhuluma okuthile okujwayele? Cabanga ngesici esisodwa nje sokuwohloka okungokwenhlalo ezweni lanamuhla—ukubhidlika kwemikhaya. Izinga eliphakeme lemizi echithekayo, abangane bomshado abashaywayo, izingane ezihlukunyezwayo nabazali asebekhulile abaxhashazwayo—yeka indlela lezi zinto ezibonisa ngayo ukuthi abantu ‘abanakho ukusondelana ngokomzwelo okungokwemvelo,’ “banolaka,” futhi ‘bangabakhapheli’ imbala, ‘abanalo uthando ngobuhle’! Yebo, lezi zici zingezinga eliwumqedazwe namuhla.

Ingabe Isizukulwane Sethu Yiso Esabikezelwa?

Nokho, ungase uzibuze, ‘Ingabe lezi zimo bezilokhu zingasihluphi yini isintu? Sazi kanjani ukuthi isizukulwane sethu sanamuhla yiso esabikezelelwa lezi ziprofetho zasendulo?’ Ake sihlole imikhakha emithathu yobufakazi ebonisa ukuthi uJesu wayekhuluma ngesikhathi sethu.

Okokuqala, nakuba ngokwengxenye kwaba nokugcwaliseka kokuqala lapho kubhujiswa iJerusalema nethempeli lalo, akungabazeki ukuthi amazwi kaJesu ayekhomba esikhathini esizayo sangemva kwalolo suku. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-30 ngemva kwenhlekelele eyabhubhisa iJerusalema, uJesu wanikeza umphostoli uJohane owayesekhulile umbono owawubonisa ukuthi izimo okwakuprofethwe ngazo—impi, indlala, izifo eziwumshayabhuqe, nokufa ezaziyophumela kukho—kwakumelwe zifike emhlabeni wonke esikhathini esizayo. Yebo, lezi zinhlupho zaziyosibekela ‘umhlaba’ wonke, hhayi indawo ethile eyodwa.—IsAmbulo 6:2-8.

Okwesibili, kuleli khulu leminyaka izici ezithile zesibonakaliso sikaJesu zigcwaliseka ngalokho esingakubiza ngokuthi izinga lokugcina. Ngokwesibonelo, kusengenzeka yini ukuba izimpi zibe zimbi kakhulu kunalokho eziye zaba yikho kusukela ngo-1914? Uma bekungaba neMpi Yezwe III, lapho yonke imibuso yanamuhla isebenzisa izikhali zayo zenuzi, cishe umphumela ubungaba ukuthi lomhlaba ube yincithakalo ewumlotha—futhi isintu siqothulwe ngokuphelele. Ngokufanayo, isAmbulo 11:18 sabikezela ukuthi kulezi zinsuku zokugcina lapho izizwe ‘zinolaka,’ isintu siyobe ‘sibhubhisa umhlaba.’ Ngokokuqala ngqá emlandweni, ukungcoliswa nokucekelwa phansi kwendawo ezungezile sekusongela khona kanye ukufaneleka kwaleplanethi ukuba kuhlalwe kuyo! Ngakho nalesi sici sigcwaliseka ngezinga lokugcina noma ngokuseduze nalo. Ingabe izimpi nokungcola kwendawo kuzomane kuqhubeke kudlanga kuze kube yilapho umuntu esezibhubhise yena kanye naleplanethi? Cha; ngoba iBhayibheli uqobo lithi umhlaba uyohlala phakade, kuhlale abantu abazinhliziyo-zilungile kuwo.—IHubo 37:29; Mathewu 5:5.

Okwesithathu, isibonakaliso sezinsuku zokugcina sigculisa ngokukhethekile lapho sihlolwa sisonke. Sekukonke, lapho sicabangela izici uJesu aziphawula emaVangelini amathathu, lezo ezisemibhalweni kaPawulu kanye nalezo ezikuyisAmbulo, lesi sibonakaliso sinezici eziningi. Umuntu angase alibalekele iphuzu lapho zithathwa ngazinye, aphikise ngokuthi nangezinye izinkathi ziye zaba khona izinkinga ezifanayo, kodwa lapho sicabanga ngazo zizonke, zikhomba ngokucacile enkathini eyodwa kuphela—eyethu.

Nokho, kusho ukuthini konke lokhu? Ingabe kusho ukuthi iBhayibheli limane lichaze inkathi yethu njengesikhathi esidabukisayo esingenathemba? Lutho neze!

Izindaba Ezinhle

Esinye sezici eziphawuleka kakhulu zesibonakaliso sezinsuku zokugcina silotshwe kuMathewu 24:14: “Lezizindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiweyo ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.” Kuleli khulu leminyaka, oFakazi BakaJehova baye benza umsebenzi oyingqayizivele emlandweni wesintu. Baye bamukela isigijimi seBhayibheli soMbuso kaJehova uNkulunkulu—lokho oyikho, indlela obusa ngayo nalokho ozokufeza—base besisakaza emhlabeni wonke. Baye banyathelisa izincwadi ezimayelana nalokhu ngezilimi ezingaphezulu kakhulu kuka-300 futhi baziletha kubantu emakhaya abo noma emigwaqweni noma ezindaweni zabo zebhizinisi cishe kuwo wonke amazwe asemhlabeni.

Ngokwenza kanjalo, baye bagcwalisa lesi siprofetho. Kodwa futhi baye basakaza nethemba. Phawula ukuthi uJesu wabiza lokhu ‘ngezindaba ezinhle,’ hhayi ngezindaba ezimbi. Kungenzeka kanjani lokho kulezi zikhathi zobumnyama? Ngoba isigijimi seBhayibheli esiyinhloko asiphathelene nokuthi izinto ziyoba zimbi kangakanani ekupheleni kwalelizwe elidala. Isigijimi salo esiyinhloko sihilela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, futhi lowo Mbuso uthembisa okuthile okuthandekayo kuwo wonke umuntu othanda ukuthula—ukukhululwa.

Kuyini ngempela lokho kukhululwa, futhi ungakuthola kanjani? Siza uhlole izihloko ezilandelayo mayelana nalendaba.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 5]

Abantu bafuna izimpendulo zemibuzo ekhathazayo enjengokuthi, Kungani izinto zizimbi kangaka? Isintu siphokophelephi?

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 6]

Namuhla, amaphesenti angaphezu kwangu-90 ezisulu zempi ayizakhamuzi

[Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Isiprofetho sikaJesu sokubhujiswa kweJerusalema sagcwaliseka ngazo zonke izici