Gcina Usuku LukaJehova Luseduze Engqondweni
“Ezinsukwini zokugcina kuyofika abahleki bosulu.”—2 PETRU 3:3.
1. Yimuphi umuzwa wokuphuthuma omunye umKristu wosuku lwanamuhla ayenawo?
ISIKHONZI esesineminyaka engaphezu kuka-66 enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele sabhala: “Njalo ngiye ngaba nomuzwa ojulile wokuphuthuma. Emcabangweni wami, njalo i-Armagedoni iye yaba yinto ezokwenzeka ngomhlomunye. (IsAmbulo 16:14, 16) Njengobaba, nanjengomkhulu ngaphambi kwakhe, ngiye ngaphila ukuphila kwami njengoba umphostoli [uPetru] anxusa, ‘ngikugcina kuseduze engqondweni ukuba khona kosuku lukaJehova.’ Njalo ngiye ngabheka izwe elisha elithenjisiwe ‘njengento engokoqobo nakuba lingabonwa.’”—2 Petru 3:11, 12; Heberu 11:1; Isaya 11:6-9; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4.
2. Kusho ukuthini ukulugcina luseduze engqondweni usuku lukaJehova?
2 Amazwi kaPetru athi “nikugcine kuseduze engqondweni,” mayelana nosuku lukaJehova, asho ukuthi singaluhlehlisi ezingqondweni zethu. Akufanele sikhohlwe ukuthi usuku uJehova azobhubhisa ngalo lesi simiso sezinto ngaphambi kokuba amise izwe lakhe elisha luseduze kakhulu. Kufanele lube ngokoqobo kithi kangangokuthi silubone ngokucacile, njengokungathi lusijamele. Lwalungokoqobo kanjalo kubaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu basendulo, futhi babevame ukukhuluma ngalo njengoluseduze.—Isaya 13:6; Joweli 1:15; 2:1, NW; Obadiya 15; Zefaniya 1:7, 14.
3. Yini ngokusobala eyashukumisa uPetru ukuba anikeze iseluleko mayelana nosuku lukaJehova?
3 Kungani uPetru asinxusa ukuba sibheke usuku lukaJehova njengokungathi luzofika “ngomhlomunye”? Ngoba ngokusobala abanye base beqale ukuwuhleka usulu umqondo wokuba khona kukaKristu okuthenjisiwe okwakuyojeziswa abenzi bokubi phakathi nakho. (2 Petru 3:3, 4) Ngakho esahlukweni 3 sencwadi yakhe yesibili, esizoyicabangela manje, uPetru uphendula amazwi alaba bahleki bosulu.
Banxuswa Ngokufudumele Ukuba Bakhumbule
4. Yini uPetru afuna siyikhumbule?
4 Uthando lukaPetru ngabafowabo lubonakala ngokubabiza kwakhe ngokuphindaphindiwe ngokuthi “bathandekayo” kulesi sahluko. Ebanxusa ngokufudumele ukuba bangakukhohlwa abakufundiswa, uPetru uqala ngokuthi: ‘Bathandekayo, ngivusa amandla enu okucabanga angafiphaziwe ngendlela yokunikhumbuza, ukuba nikhumbule amazwi akhulunywa ngaphambili abaprofethi abangcwele nomyalo weNkosi noMsindisi oweza ngabaphostoli benu.’—2 Petru 3:1, 2, 8, 14, 17; Jude 17.
5. Babethini ngosuku lukaJehova abanye abaprofethi?
5 Yimaphi “amazwi akhulunywa ngaphambili abaprofethi abangcwele” uPetru anxusa abafundi ukuba bawakhumbule? Phela, yilawo amayelana nokuba khona kukaKristu emandleni oMbuso kanye nokwahlulelwa kwabangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu. Ngaphambili uPetru wayedonsele ukunakekela kulamazwi. (2 Petru 1:16-19; 2:3-10) UJude ubhekisela ku-Enoke, ongumprofethi wokuqala okulotshwe ngaye owaxwayisa ngesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu esibi kubenzi bokubi. (Jude 14, 15) U-Enoke walandelwa abanye abaprofethi, futhi uPetru akafuni sikukhohlwe abakubhala.—Isaya 66:15, 16; Zefaniya 1:15-18; Zakariya 14:6-9.
6. Yimaphi amazwi kaKristu nabaphostoli bakhe asikhanyisela ngosuku lukaJehova?
6 Ngaphezu kwalokho, uPetru utshela abafundi bencwadi yakhe ukuba bakhumbule “nomyalo weNkosi noMsindisi.” Umyalo kaJesu uhlanganisa nalesi sikhuthazo: “Zinakeni ukuba izinhliziyo zenu zingalokothi zisindwe . . . futhi ngokungazelelwe lolosuku lufike phezu kwenu ngaso lesosikhathi njengogibe.” “Hlalani nibhekile, nihlale niphapheme, ngoba anazi ukuthi sinini isikhathi esimisiwe.” (Luka 21:34-36; Marku 13:33) UPetru futhi usinxusa ukuba silalele amazwi abaphostoli. Ngokwesibonelo, umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Usuku lukaJehova luza ngokufana ncamashí nesela ebusuku. Ngakho-ke, masingalali njengoba kwenza bonke abanye, kodwa masihlale siphapheme futhi sihlale sisangulukile.”—1 Thesalonika 5:2, 6.
Izifiso Zabahleki Bosulu
7, 8. (a) Luhlobo luni lwabantu oluzihleka usulu izigijimi zikaNkulunkulu eziyisixwayiso? (b) Bathini laba bahleki bosulu?
7 Njengoba kuphawuliwe ngaphambili, isizathu sesiyalo sikaPetru siwukuthi abanye base beqale ukuzidelela izixwayiso ezinjalo, njengoba nje nama-Israyeli angaphambili ayebahleke usulu abaprofethi bakaJehova. (2 IziKronike 36:16) UPetru uyachaza: “Ngoba okokuqala niyakwazi lokhu, ukuthi ezinsukwini zokugcina kuyofika abahleki bosulu nokuhleka kwabo usulu, beqhubeka ngokwezifiso zabo siqu.” (2 Petru 3:3) UJude uthi izifiso zalaba bahleki bosulu ‘zingezezinto zokungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu.’ Ubabiza ‘ngabantu abanjengezilwane, abangenaso isimo esingokomoya.’—Jude 17-19.
8 Abafundisi bamanga uPetru athi “baqhubeka belandela inyama benesifiso sokuyingcolisa” cishe baphakathi kwalaba bahleki bosulu abangenaso isimo esingokomoya. (2 Petru 2:1, 10, 14) Babuza amaKristu akholekile ngokuwahleka usulu: “Kuphi lokhu kuba khona kwakhe okuthenjisiwe? Phela, kusukela osukwini okhokho bethu abalala ngalo ekufeni, zonke izinto ziqhubeka ngokufana ncamashí nasekuqaleni kwendalo.”—2 Petru 3:4.
9. (a) Kungani abahleki bosulu bezama ukululaza umuzwa wokuphuthuma okulo lonke iZwi likaNkulunkulu? (b) Kusivikela kanjani ukugcina usuku lukaJehova luseduze engqondweni?
9 Kungani kunalokhu kuhleka usulu? Kungani besikisela ukuthi ukuba khona kukaKristu kungase kungenzeki nhlobo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu akakaze angenele ezindabeni zesintu futhi akasoze? Ngokululaza umuzwa wokuphuthuma okulo lonke iZwi likaNkulunkulu, laba bahleki bosulu abanjengezilwane bafuna ukulolozela abanye babe sesimweni sokunganaki ngokomoya futhi kanjalo babenze babanjwe kalula ukuyenga kobugovu. Yeka isikhuthazo esinamandla kithi namuhla sokuba sihlale siphapheme ngokomoya! Kwangathi singalugcina luseduze engqondweni usuku lukaJehova futhi sikhumbule njalo ukuthi amehlo akhe ayasibona! Kanjalo siyoshukunyiselwa ukuba sikhonze uJehova ngentshiseko futhi silondoloze ubumsulwa bethu bokuziphatha.—IHubo 11:4; Isaya 29:15; Hezekeli 8:12; 12:27; Zefaniya 1:12.
Benza Ngamabomu Futhi Bayanengeka
10. UPetru ukufakazela kanjani ukuthi abahleki bosulu banephutha?
10 Abahleki bosulu abanjalo bashalazela iqiniso elibalulekile. Balishalazela ngamabomu futhi bazame ukwenza abanye balikhohlwe. Ngani? Ukuze bakwazi ukuyenga abantu kalula. “Ngoba, ngokwesifiso sabo,” kubhala uPetru, “leliqiniso liyabaphunyuka.” Liphi iqiniso? “Lokuthi ayekhona amazulu kusukela kudala nomhlaba omi ubumbene uvelé emanzini futhi uphakathi kwamanzi ngezwi likaNkulunkulu; futhi ngawo izwe langalesosikhathi labhujiswa lapho limbozwa amanzi.” (2 Petru 3:5, 6) Yebo, uJehova wabususa ububi emhlabeni ngeSikhukhula osukwini lukaNowa, iqiniso noJesu aligcizelela. (Mathewu 24:37-39; Luka 17:26, 27; 2 Petru 2:5) Ngakho, ngokuphambene nalokho abahleki bosulu abakushoyo, izinto azizange ziqhubeke zonke “ngokufana ncamashí nasekuqaleni kwendalo.”
11. Yimaphi amathemba amaKristu okuqala aba nawo kungakabi yisikhathi, aholela abanye ukuba bawahleke usulu?
11 Abahleki bosulu babengawahleka impela amaKristu akholekile ngoba ayenamathemba ayengakafezeki ngaleso sikhathi. Ngaphambi nje kokuba uJesu afe, abafundi bakhe “babecabanga ukuthi umbuso kaNkulunkulu uzozibonakalisa ngaso lesosikhathi.” Kwabe sekuthi ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe bambuza ukuthi uMbuso uyomiswa ngaso leso sikhathi yini. Futhi, eminyakeni engaba yishumi ngaphambi kokuba uPetru abhale incwadi yakhe yesibili, abanye ‘babethuswe isigijimi somlomo noma incwadi,’ okwakuthiwa ivela kumphostoli uPawulu noma kozakwabo, ‘ithi usuku lukaJehova selufikile.’ (Luka 19:11; 2 Thesalonika 2:2; IzEnzo 1:6) Nokho, amathemba anjalo abafundi bakaJesu ayengewona amanga, kwakumane kungakabi yisikhathi sawo. Usuku lukaJehova lwaluzofika!
IZwi LikaNkulunkulu Linokwethenjelwa
12. IZwi likaNkulunkulu liye labonakala kanjani linokwethenjelwa eziprofethweni zalo mayelana ‘nosuku lukaJehova’?
12 Njengoba kuphawuliwe ngaphambili, abaprofethi bangaphambi kobuKristu babevame ukuxwayisa ngokuthi usuku lukaJehova lwempindiselo luseduze. “Usuku lukaJehova” oluncane lwafika ngo-607 B.C.E. lapho uJehova ekhipha impindiselo kubantu bakhe abangalawuleki. (Zefaniya 1:14-18) Kamuva, ezinye izizwe, kuhlanganise neBabiloni neGibithe, zabhekana ‘nosuku lukaJehova’ olunjalo. (Isaya 13:6-9; Jeremiya 46:1-10; Obadiya 15) Ukuphela kwesimiso sezinto samaJuda sekhulu lokuqala nakho kwabikezelwa, futhi kwenzeka lapho amabutho amaRoma echitha iJudiya ngo-70 C.E. (Luka 19:41-44; 1 Petru 4:7) Kodwa uPetru ukhomba ‘osukwini lukaJehova’ oluzayo, oluyokwenza ngisho neSikhukhula sembulunga yonke sibe yize ngobukhulu!
13. Yisiphi isibonelo esingokomlando esibonisa ukuthi ukuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto kuqinisekile?
13 UPetru wethula incazelo yakhe yaleyo mbubhiso ezayo ngokuthi: “Kodwa ngezwi elifanayo.” Wayesanda kuthi “ngezwi likaNkulunkulu,” umhlaba wangaphambi kweSikhukhula wawumi “uvelé emanzini futhi uphakathi kwamanzi.” Lesi simo, esichazwe emlandweni weBhayibheli wendalo, senza kwenzeka ukuba kube noZamcolo lapho amanzi ehlela phansi ngokwesiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu, noma izwi. UPetru uyaqhubeka: “Ngezwi elifanayo [likaNkulunkulu] amazulu nomhlaba okukhona manje kubekelwe umlilo futhi kuyagcinwa kuze kube sosukwini lokwahlulelwa nolokubhujiswa kwabantu abangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu.” (2 Petru 3:5-7; Genesise 1:6-8) UJehova usiqinisekisa ngezwi elinokwethenjelwa! Uzobhubhisa “amazulu nomhlaba”—lesi simiso sezinto—ngolaka oluvuthayo losuku lwakhe olukhulu! (Zefaniya 3:8) Kodwa kuyoba nini?
Ukulangazelela Ukufika Kokuphela
14. Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi manje siphila “ezinsukwini zokugcina”?
14 Abafundi bakaJesu babefuna ukwazi ukuthi ukuphela kuyofika nini, ngakho bambuza: “Siyoba yini isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakho nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto?” Ngokusobala babebuza ukuthi isimiso samaJuda siyophela nini, kodwa impendulo kaJesu yagxila ngokuyinhloko ekutheni “amazulu nomhlaba” kwamanje kuyobhujiswa nini. UJesu wabikezela izinto ezinjengezimpi ezinkulu, ukuswelakala kokudla, ukuzamazama komhlaba, izifo nobugebengu. (Mathewu 24:3-14; Luka 21:5-36) Kusukela ngonyaka ka-1914, siye sabona ukugcwaliseka kwesibonakaliso “sesiphelo sesimiso sezinto” esanikezwa uJesu, kanye nezinto umphostoli uPawulu athi zaziyophawula ‘izinsuku zokugcina.’ (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Ngempela ubufakazi bokuthi siphila esikhathini sokuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto buningi ngendlela emangalisayo!
15. Yini amaKristu aye athambekela ekuyenzeni naphezu kwesixwayiso sikaJesu?
15 OFakazi BakaJehova bebelokhu belangazelela ukwazi ukuthi luyoba nini usuku lukaJehova. Benalokho kulangazela, ngezinye izikhathi baye benza imizamo yokulinganisela ukuthi lungase lufike nini. Kodwa ngokwenze njalo, njengabafundi bakaJesu bokuqala, baye bahluleka ukulalela isixwayiso seNkosi yabo esithi ‘asazi ukuthi sinini isikhathi esimisiwe.’ (Marku 13:32, 33) Abahleki bosulu baye bawahleka usulu amaKristu akholekile ngenxa yamathemba awo angaphambi kwesikhathi. (2 Petru 3:3, 4) Noma kunjalo, uPetru uqinisekisa ukuthi usuku lukaJehova luzofika, ngokohlelo lwaKhe lwesikhathi.
Isidingo Sokuba Nombono KaJehova
16. Yisiphi isiyalo okuwukuhlakanipha ukuba sisilalele?
16 Kudingeka sibe nombono kaJehova wesikhathi, njengoba uPetru manje esikhumbuza: “Nokho, leliqiniso elilodwa malinganiphunyuki, bathandekayo, lokuthi usuku olulodwa kuJehova lunjengeminyaka eyinkulungwane neminyaka eyinkulungwane injengosuku olulodwa.” Yeka ukuthi sifushane kangakanani isilinganiso sokuphila kwethu seminyaka engu-70 noma 80, uma kuqhathaniswa! (2 Petru 3:8; IHubo 90:4, 10) Ngakho uma ukugcwaliseka kwezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu kubonakala kwephuza, kudingeka samukele isiyalo somprofethi kaNkulunkulu: ‘Noma [isikhathi esimisiwe] silibala, silindele, ngokuba siyakufika nokufika, asiyikwephuza.’ (Omalukeke sizenzele.)—Habakuki 2:3.
17. Nakuba izinsuku zokugcina ziye zaqhubeka isikhathi eside kunalokho abaningi abebekulindele, yini esingaqiniseka ngayo?
17 Kungani izinsuku zokugcina zalesi simiso sezinto ziye zaqhubeka isikhathi eside kunalokho abaningi abebekulindele? Ngenxa yesizathu esihle, njengoba uPetru echaza ngokulandelayo: “UJehova akephuzi ngokuqondene nesithembiso sakhe, njengoba abanye abantu becabangela ukwephuza, kodwa uyanibekezelela ngoba akafisi ukuba noma ubani abhujiswe kodwa ufisa ukuba bonke bafinyelele ekuphendukeni.” (2 Petru 3:9) UJehova ucabangela lokho okuyozuzisa sonke isintu. Akukhathalelayo ukuphila kwabantu, njengoba esho: “Angithokozi ngokufa komubi, kuphela ngokubuya komubi endleleni yakhe aze aphile.” (Hezekeli 33:11) Ngakho singaqiniseka ukuthi ukuphela kuyofika ngaso kanye isikhathi esifanele ukuze kugcwaliseke injongo yoMdali wethu onothando nohlakaniphe kakhulu!
Yini Eyodlula?
18, 19. (a) Kungani uJehova ezimisele ukubhubhisa lesi simiso sezinto? (b) UPetru ukuchaza kanjani ukuphela kwalesi simiso, futhi yini ngempela eyobhujiswa?
18 Ngenxa yokuthi uJehova ubathanda ngempela labo abamkhonzayo, uyobasusa bonke abababangela inkathazo. (IHubo 37:9-11, 29) Ephawula ukuthi lembubhiso iyofika ngesikhathi esingalindelwe, njengoba kwenza uPawulu ngaphambili, uPetru uyabhala: “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; 1 Thesalonika 5:2) Amazulu nomhlaba okungokoqobo akubhujiswanga ngoZamcolo, futhi ngeke kubhujiswe ngosuku lukaJehova. Yini-ke ‘eyodlula,’ noma eyobhujiswa?
19 Ohulumeni babantu abaye babusa isintu ‘njengamazulu’ bayophela, ngokufanayo ‘nomhlaba,’ noma umphakathi wesintu ongamhloniphi uNkulunkulu. ‘Umsindo ohazayo’ mhlawumbe ubonisa ukudlula okusheshayo kwamazulu. “Izakhi” ezakha umphakathi wesintu wanamuhla owohlokayo nazo “ziyoncibilika,” noma zibhujiswe. Futhi “umhlaba,” kuhlanganise “nemisebenzi ekuwo kuyokwambulwa.” UJehova uyozidalula ngokuphelele izenzo ezimbi zabantu lapho eqeda ngokufanelekile sonke isimiso sezwe.
Hlala Ugxile Ethembeni Lakho
20. Ulwazi lwethu ngezenzakalo ezizayo kufanele lukuthonye kanjani ukuphila kwethu?
20 Njengoba lezi zenzakalo eziphawulekayo zisemnyango, uPetru uthi kumelwe senze ‘izenzo zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, silindele futhi sikugcine kuseduze engqondweni ukuba khona kosuku lukaJehova.’ Akukho kungabaza ngakho! “Amazulu njengoba eyobe esha [ayoncibilika] nezinto zawo njengoba ziyobe zishisa kakhulu [ziyoncibilika]!” (2 Petru 3:11, 12) Iqiniso lokuthi lezi zenzakalo eziphawulekayo zingaqala ukwenzeka kusasa kufanele lithonye konke esikwenzayo noma esihlela ukukwenza.
21. Yini eyothatha isikhundla samazulu nomhlaba kwamanje?
21 UPetru manje usitshela ukuthi yini eyothatha isikhundla salesi simiso esidala, ethi: “Kodwa kukhona amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha esikulindele ngokwesithembiso sakhe, futhi kukho kuyohlala ukulunga.” (2 Petru 3:13; Isaya 65:17) Yeka impumuzo enkulu! UKristu nababusi abakanye naye abangu-144 000 bayokwakha “amazulu amasha” anguhulumeni, futhi abantu abayosinda ekupheleni kwalelizwe bayokwakha ‘umhlaba omusha.’—1 Johane 2:17; IsAmbulo 5:9, 10; 14:1, 3.
Londoloza Umuzwa Wokuphuthuma Nobumsulwa Bokuziphatha
22. (a) Yini eyosisiza ukuba sigweme noma yiliphi ibala noma isici esingokomoya? (b) Iyiphi ingozi uPetru axwayisa ngayo?
22 “Ngakho, bathandekayo,” kuqhubeka uPetru, “njengoba nilindele lezizinto, yenzani konke okusemandleni enu ukuba ekugcineni anithole ningenabala, ningenasici futhi nisekuthuleni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, bhekani ukubekezela kweNkosi yethu njengensindiso.” Ukulinda ngokulangazela okukhulu nokubheka noma yikuphi okubonakala kuwukulibala kosuku lukaJehova njengokubonakaliswa kokubekezela kwaphezulu kuyosisiza ukuba sigweme noma yiliphi ibala noma isici esingokomoya. Nokho, ingozi ikhona! UPetru uxwayisa ngokuthi emibhalweni ‘yomfowethu othandekayo uPawulu, kukhona izinto ezithile kuyo okunzima ukuziqonda, lezo abangafundile nabangagxilile abazisontayo, njengoba benza nakuyo yonke eminye imiBhalo, kube ukubhujiswa kwabo siqu.’—2 Petru 3:14-16.
23. Sithini isiyalo sikaPetru sokuphetha?
23 Abafundisi bamanga ngokusobala basonta imibhalo kaPawulu mayelana nomusa kaNkulunkulu ongafanelwe, beyisebenzisa njengezaba zokuziphatha okuxekethile. Mhlawumbe uPetru wayecabanga ngalokhu lapho ebhala isiyalo sakhe sokuvalelisa: “Ngakho-ke, nina bathandekayo, ninalolulwazi kusengaphambili, qaphani ukuba ningamuki nabo ngesiphambeko sabantu abadelela umthetho futhi niwe ekugxileni kwenu siqu.” Ube esephetha incwadi yakhe, enxusa: “Qhubekani nikhula emseni ongafanelwe nasolwazini ngeNkosi noMsindisi wethu uJesu Kristu.”—2 Petru 3:17, 18.
24. Yisiphi isimo sengqondo zonke izinceku zikaJehova okufanele zibe naso?
24 Ngokusobala, uPetru ufuna ukuqinisa abafowabo. Ufisa ukuba bonke babe nesimo sengqondo esavezwa uFakazi oneminyaka engu-82 ubudala ocashunwe ekuqaleni: “Ngiye ngaphila ukuphila kwami njengoba umphostoli anxusa, ‘ngikugcina kuseduze engqondweni ukuba khona kosuku lukaJehova.’ Njalo ngiye ngabheka izwe elisha elithenjisiwe ‘njengento engokoqobo nakuba lingabonwa.’” Kwangathi sonke singaphila ukuphila kwethu ngendlela efanayo.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Kusho ukuthini ‘ukulugcina luseduze engqondweni’ usuku lukaJehova?
◻ Yini abahleki bosulu abayishalazela ngamabomu, futhi ngani?
◻ Kungasiphi isizathu abahleki bosulu babehleka amaKristu akholekile?
◻ Yimuphi umbono okudingeka siwulondoloze?
[Isithombe ekhasini 23]
Lugcine luseduze engqondweni usuku lukaJehova . . .
[Isithombe ekhasini 24]
. . . nezwe elisha eliyolandela