USuku LweNkosi Luyosho Ukuthini Kuwe?
“Busa wena phakathi kwezitha zakho.”—IHUBO 110:2.
1-3. (a) Kungani isiqalo sosuku lweNkosi siye saba isikhathi sokulwa, futhi ziye zaba yini ezinye zezinto uJesu aphumelela kuzo? (b) UJesu ‘uyokuphelelisa kanjani ukunqoba kwakhe’?
EMUVA ngo-1914, uJesu wamiswa njengeNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, futhi usuku lweNkosi lwaqala. Ngokushesha, leNkosi entsha yabhekana nokuphikiswa kobudlova kukaSathane uDeveli namanxusa akhe lapha emhlabeni. (IHubo 2:1-6) Ngakho leminyaka yokuqala yosuku lweNkosi iye yaba isikhathi sokulwa lapho uJesu eye ‘wabusa phakathi kwezitha zakhe.’—IHubo 110:2.
2 Ukunqoba kweNkosi entsha kuye kwaba okuvusa amadlingozi. Ngemva kuka-1914, uSathane wazama ‘ukushwabadela’ uMbuso osanda kuzalwa, kodwa, kunalokho, waxoshwa ezulwini ngendlela ehlazisayo. (IsAmbulo 12:1-12) Khona-ke wabe ‘eselwa’ nabaseleyo babagcotshiwe, kodwa wahluleka ukuvimbela ‘ukuma’ kwabo ngo-1919 noma ukwamukela kwabo “incwadi encane” esandleni sikaJesu Kristu. (IsAmbulo 10:8-11; 11:11, 12; 12:17) Wayengenamandla ngokufanayo okuvimbela ukuqoqwa kwabokugcina bezi-144 000 nokuhlanganiselwa ndawonye kwesixuku esikhulu (esivela kuzo zonke izizwe), ‘esikhonza imini nobusuku ethempelini likaJehova.’—IsAmbulo 7:1-3, 9-15.
3 Ngempela, kusukela ngo-1914 uJesu uye “waphuma engonqobayo.” Nokho, kusekuningi okusazokwenziwa. Kusadingeka ukuba uJesu ‘[aphelelise] ukunqoba kwakhe.’ Kusadinga ukuba athathe isinyathelo sokususa zonke izinsalela zesimiso sezinto sezwe likaSathane. (IsAmbulo 6:1, 2, qhathanisa neNW; 19:11-21) Lesinyathelo esibaluleke kangaka siyosho ukuthini kithina njengabantu ngabanye?
Ukuhlutshulwa Obala KweBabiloni Elikhulu
4. Inkolo yamanga ichazwa kanjani kusAmbulo?
4 Ukubhujiswa kwezwe likaSathane kuqala ngesiphelo senkolo yamanga. IsAmbulo sichaza wonke umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga—kuhlanganise neLobukholwa—njengesifebe, iBabiloni Elikhulu, esishendeza namakhosi omhlaba futhi sidakise isintu ngobufebe baso. Naso ngokwaso sidakiwe—ngendlela enengekayo—ngokuphuza igazi, igazi lezinceku zikaNkulunkulu. (IsAmbulo 17:1-6) IsAmbulo futhi sichaza ukuphela kwalesifebe esidala esinengekayo, futhi singakuqonda kangcono ukuthi lokhu kuyosho ukuthini uma sicabangela lokho okwenzeka kwesinye isifebe esingokwenkolo esasikhona emuva le ekhulwini lesikhombisa leminyaka ngaphambi kweSikhathi sethu Esivamile.
5, 6. Kungani iJerusalema elingathembekile labizwa ngokuthi isifebe, futhi lokhu kwalilethela siphi isahlulelo esivela esandleni sikaJehova?
5 Lesosifebe kwakuwumuzi waseJerusalema. Kwakufanele ube isikhungo sokukhulekelwa kukaJehova emhlabeni, kodwa uNkulunkulu wathi kuwo: “Ngegazi olichithileyo unecala.” (Hezekeli 22:4) Kwakufanele futhi libe elimsulwa ngokomoya, kodwa lazenza ngokwalo isifebe ngokuzihlanganisa nezizwe. “Yeka ubuthakathaka benhliziyo yakho,” kusho uJehova kulo, ‘lokhu wenza zonke lezizinto, izenzo zowesifazane oyisifebe esingazibambiyo!’—Hezekeli 16:30; 23:1-21; Jakobe 4:4.
6 Khona-ke, cabanga ngesahlulelo sikaJehova kulesifebe: “Bheka, ngiyakubutha zonke izithandwa [izizwe] zakho ozenamisile nazo, nazo zonke ozithandileyo . . . , zikuhlubule izingubo zakho, zithathe izinto zakho ezinhle, zikushiye unqunu, uze. Ziyakushisa izindlu zakho ngomlilo.” (Hezekeli 16:37, 39, 41; 23:25-30) Umlando ulandisa ngalokho okwenzeka. AbaseBabiloni beza ngo-607 B.C. E. futhi balihlubula iJerusalema balishiya linqunu. Abantu balo nengcebo yalo kwathwalwa kwayiswa eBabiloni. Umuzi wabhujiswa, ithempeli lashiswa, nezwe lashiywa liyincithakalo.—2 IziKronike 36:17-21.
7. Kuyoba yini ukuphela kweBabiloni Elikhulu?
7 Okufanayo kuyokwenzeka eBabiloni Elikhulu. IsAmbulo siyaxwayisa: “Lezi [ “amakhosi” anamuhla, noma ababusi iBabiloni elikhulu eliye lafeba nabo ngokomoya] ziyakusizonda isifebe, zisenze incithakalo, sibeyize, zidle inyama yaso, zisishise ngomlilo, zisiqede.” (IsAmbulo 17:2, 16) Ngenxa yesibonelo seJerusalema lasendulo, siyazi ukuthi lokhu kuyosho ukuthini. Inkolo yamanga iyobhujiswa ohulumeni bezwe ‘ababeyithanda’ ngaphambili. Umcebo wayo uyoqhwagwa, futhi iyoshiswa, ibhujiswe ngokuphelele. Isiphelo esifanelekayo senhlangano enengekayo!
Amazulu Aba-mnyama
8. Usizi olukhulu luyoba isikhathi esinjani esintwini?
8 Ngokubhujiswa kweBabiloni Elikhulu, siyobe sesingene ‘osizini olukhulu’ olwaprofethwa uJesu. (Mathewu 24:21; IsAmbulo 7:14) Sikhuluma ngalesosikhathi, isAmbulo sithi: “Kwaba-khona ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba, nelanga laba-mnyama njengendwangu yesaka loboya, nenyanga yonke yaba-njengegazi, nezinkanyezi zezulu zawela emhlabeni.” (IsAmbulo 6:12, 13) Lokhu kuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba ‘kuwukuthuthumela okukhulu’ “ezweni lakwaIsrayeli” lokho uHezekeli akuprofetha. (Hezekeli 38:18, 19; Joweli 3:14-16) Kuwukubhujiswa kokugcina kwalesimiso esibi sezinto. Ingabe kukhona okuyokwenzeka elangeni, enyangeni, nasezinkanyezini ezingokoqobo ngalesosikhathi?
9, 10. Yini uHezekeli ayiprofetha ngeGibithe, futhi lokhu kwagcwaliseka kanjani?
9 Lapho uHezekeli, exwayisa ngokuwa okuzayo kukamakhelwane kaIsrayeli omkhulu oseningizimu, iGibithe, wathi: “Lapho, [wena Faro] ngikucisha, ngiyakusibekela izulu, ngenze-mnyama izinkanyezi, ngimboze ilanga ngefu, inyanga ingakhanyisi ngokukhanya kwayo. Ngiyakwenzamnyama phezu kwakho zonke izinkanyiso zezulu ezikhanyayo, ngibeke ubumnyama ezweni lakho, isho iNkosi uJehova.”—Hezekeli 32:7, 8.
10 Lapho uFaro namabutho akhe bewa, amazulu angokoqobo awazange abe-mnyama. Kodwa ikusasa leGibithe laba-mnyama kakhulu. Njengoba isazi seBhayibheli uC. F. Keil siphawula, “ubumnyama obalandela [ukuwa kukaFaro] buwukumelela okungokomfanekiso izimo ezingenathemba ngokuphelele.” Lipheliswe phakade njengombuso wezwe ozimele, iGibithe labuswa omunye umbuso wezwe ngemva komunye! Namuhla, izwe elikhulu lombuso wezwe kaFaro wasendulo libuswa isizwe sama-Arabhu.
11. (a) Yini efanekiselwa yilokho okwenzeka eGibithe? (b) Ikusasa liyoba-mnyama kanjani ngokuphelele ngezwe likaSathane ngosizi olukhulu?
11 Kodwa uKeil wabona enye incazelo esiprofethweni sikaHezekeli. Uyabhala: “Ukuketulwa kwalombuso wezwe [iGibithe] kuyibika nesandulela sokuketulwa kwayo yonke imibuso yezwe engamesabi uNkulunkulu ngosuku lokwahlulela kokugcina.” Lokhu eqinisweni kunjalo. Njengoba isAmbulo sibonisa, osizini olukhulu amathemba esintu esingamesabi uNkulunkulu ayoba-mnyama njengalawo aseGibithe. Kuyoba sengathi ilanga alizange likhanyise emini nesibhakabhaka sobusuku asinakho noma yikuphi ukukhanya okufudumele okuvela enyangeni futhi asinakho noma yikuphi ukuqhakaza kobungane kwezinkanyezi. Labo abenqaba ukudumisa iNkosi kaJehova bayobhubha futhi bangawutholi ngisho nomngcwabo ohloniphekile lapho uMgibeli wehhashi elimhlophe ephelelisa ukunqoba kwakhe. (IsAmbulo 19:11, 17-21; Hezekeli 39:4, 17-19) Akumangalisi ukuthi abantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu bayomemeza bathi “ezintabeni nasemaweni: Welani phezu kwethu, nisisithe ebusweni balowo ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi nasolakeni lweWundlu, ngokuba usuku olukhulu lolaka lwabo selufikile; ngubanike onamandla okuma na?”—IsAmbulo 6:16, 17; Mathewu 24:30.
Impi Eqhubekayo!
12. USathane uye wayibonakalisa kanjani inzondo yakhe ngoJesu Kristu phakathi nosuku lweNkosi?
12 Nokho, kuthiwani ngamaKristu kulezikhathi? Phela, impi engapheli phakathi kukaSathane noMgibeli wehhashi elimhlophe iye yawathinta kakhulu. Njengoba uSathane eye wahluleka ukuzifikela mathupha kuJesu, uye wakhiphela wonke amandla olaka lwakhe kwabaseleyo babagcotshiweyo—futhi muva nje—nasesixukwini esikhulu sezinye izimvu esiye sabuthana eduze kwabo. Njengoba uJesu axwayisa, laba baye ‘bazondwa izizwe zonke ngenxa yegama lakhe.’ (Mathewu 24:9) USathane uye wasebenzisa zonke izikhali angase azisebenzise, kuhlanganise nokuhlasela ngezixuku, ukuvalela emajele, ukuhlupha, nokubulala, ukuze alwe nabo.—2 Thimothewu 3:12.
13. USathane uye wayisebenzisa kanjani inkohliso ekulweni kwakhe nabantu bakaNkulunkulu?
13 USathane futhi ngobungcweti uye wasebenzisa ukukhohlisa. (Efesu 6:11) Esebenzisa ‘ukukhohlisa kwengcebo,’ uye walinga abanye ukuba behlise intshiseko ngenkonzo yabo engcwele noma ngisho nokuba bayiyeke. (Mathewu 13:22; 1 Thimothewu 6:9, 10) Abanye uye wabayengela ekungcoleni nasekuziphatheni okubi. (1 Korinte 5:1, 2) Abaningi bangaphansi kokucindezeleka okunzima ngenxa ‘yeminako yokuphila,’ futhi uSathane usebenzisa lokhu ukuze azame ukuba ‘basindwe.’ (Luka 21:34) Kwezinye izimo, uye wasebenzisa ukushayisana kwemibono yobuntu noma ukuthambekela kokuhlubuka ukuze asuse ukunakekela ‘ezintweni ezibaluleke kakhulu.’—Filipi 1:10, qhathanisa neNW; 1 Korinte 1:11, 12; Jakobe 4:1-3.
14, 15. Singanqoba kanjani emzabalazweni wethu wokulwa noSathane?
14 Ngakho, kuye kwadingeka ukuba amaKristu ahlakulele ukukhuthazela phakathi nosuku lweNkosi. Amanye aye ahluleka, futhi ukwehluleka ngakunye kuye kwaba ukunqoba okuncane kukaSathane. (1 Petru 5:8) Futhi amaningi aye alalela isithembiso sikaJesu: “Okhuthazelayo kuze kube-sekupheleni nguyena oyakusindiswa.” (Mathewu 24:13) Ngosizo lukaJehova, aye anqoba futhi aletha injabulo enhliziyweni yakhe.—IzAga 27:11; 1 Johane 2:13, 14.
15 Ngokuqinisekile, akekho noyedwa kithina ofuna ukunikeza uSathane ukwaneliseka kokusibona siyeka! Ngakho, masilandele iseluleko sikaPawulu futhi sizihlomise ngeqiniso, ngokulunga, nangokholo—sishumayela izindaba ezinhle ngentshiseko futhi sitadisha ukuze sigcine ukholo lwethu luqinile. Futhi masithandaze ngokungaphezi futhi sihlale siqaphile. Ngaleyondlela, ‘asiyikubanacala ngosuku lweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.’ (1 Korinte 1:8; Efesu 6:10-18; 1 Thesalonika 5:17; 1 Petru 4:7) Kunalokho, usuku lweNkosi luyoba umthombo wezibusiso ezicebile kithina.
Amalungelo Amangalisayo Enkonzo
16. Kungani uJohane atshelwa ukuba angakulobi lokho okwashiwo imidumo eyisikhombisa, futhi lokhu kwasho ukuthini ngamaKristu agcotshiwe ngo-1919?
16 KusAmbulo 10:3, 4, uJohane uthi wezwa “imidumo eyisikhombisa” izwakalisa amazwi ayo. Wafuna ukubhala lokho ayekuzwile, kodwa uyabika, “Ngezwa izwi livela ezulwini, lithi: Namathisela ngophawu okukhulunywé yimidumo eyisikhombisa, kodwa ungakulobi.” Ngokusobala, kwakungakabi isikhathi sokuba ukwaziswa okunjalo kukhishwe. Kunalokho, uJohane watshelwa ukuba athathe lomqulu omncane futhi awudle. Imidumo eyisikhombisa ibonakala imelela ukuboniswa okuphelele kwezinjongo zikaJehova. (IHubo 29:3; Johane 12:28, 29; IsAmbulo 4:5) Emuva ngo-1919, lapho amaKristu agcotshiwe edla ngokomfanekiso umqulu omncane, kwakungakabi isikhathi ngawo sokuba aziqonde ngokuphelele izinjongo zikaNkulunkulu. (Qhathanisa noDaniyeli 12:8, 9.) Kodwa ngokungesabi aqhubekela phambili nalokho kuqonda ayenakho futhi azibonakalisa ekufanelekele ukukhanyiselwa okwengeziwe.
17. Ziyini ezinye zezici zokuqonda okusha uJehova aye wakunikeza abantu bakhe phakathi naleminyaka kusukela ngo-1919?
17 Khona-ke, phakathi neminyaka edlule, anikezwa ukuqonda okukhanya ngokuqhubekayo kwentando kaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, aqaphela ukuthi izimvu ezisemfanekisweni kaJesu, zazehlukaniswa ezimbuzini ngisho nangaphambi kweArmagedoni. (Mathewu 25:31-46) Abona ukuthi ukuzalwa koMbuso ngo-1914 kwakuwukugcwaliseka kwesAmbulo isahluko 12. Akuqonda ngokujulile ukubaluleka kwegama likaJehova, futhi afunda ukuthi eqinisweni singobani isixuku esikhulu sesAmbulo isahluko 7. Yeka ithemba lezizambulo eziqhubekayo ezalinikeza abantu bakaNkulunkulu!—IzAga 4:18; 2 Petru 1:19.
18. Yimaphi amalungelo avelele enkonzo abantu bakaJehova abaye bahlanganyela kuwo phakathi nosuku lweNkosi, futhi yikuphi ukuqapha lokhu okukwakhayo ezinhliziyweni zethu?
18 Ngesikhathi esifanayo, uJehova waphathisa izinceku zakhe zasemhlabeni amalungelo avelele enkonzo. Embonweni waphezulu, uJohane wabona ingelosi imemezela izindaba ezinhle zaphakade ngesintu, imemezela ukuwa kweBabiloni Elikhulu, futhi ixwayisa ngokwamukela uphawu lwesilo. (IsAmbulo 14:6-10) Nakuba izingelosi ngokungangabazeki zengamela lamalungelo enkonzo aphezulu, kwakungabantu, oFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni, eqinisweni abamemezela lezigijimi esintwini. UJohane futhi wabona uJesu evuna “okuvunwayo komhlaba.” (IsAmbulo 14:14-16) Kodwa uye wavuna lesisivuno ngosizo lomsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso nokwenza abafundi wezikhonzi zikaJesu emhlabeni. (Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20) Yeka ilungelo okuyilo ukuhlanganyela nezingelosi noJesu Kristu ngokwakhe emalungelweni enkonzo abaluleke kangaka! Ngokwenza kanjalo, sizizwa sisekuvumelaneni ngempela nenhlangano kaJehova yasezulwini, enkulu, engabonakali yezidalwa zomoya ezithembekile.
Isivikelo Saphezulu
19. (a) Uyoba yini umvuthwandaba wenzondo kaSathane kubantu bakaNkulunkulu? (b) Ubani oyonqoba empini yokugcina, yamanqamu?
19 Njengoba isiphelo sezwe lakhe sisondela, uSathane uyoqhubeka ewacindezela ngokwengeziwe amaKristu. Umvuthwandaba wenzondo yakhe uyachazwa kuHezekeli izahluko 38 no-39, lapho ngokwesiprofetho ebizwa ngokuthi uGogi wakwaMagogi. Ngokwalesiprofetho esiphefumlelwe, uSathane uyohlasela ngokuzimisela okukhulu ukuze azame ukubhubhisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu baphele nyá. Ingabe uyophumelela? IsAmbulo siyaphendula: “Izimpondo eziyishumi [“amakhosi,” anamuhla, noma ababusi] . . . ayakulwa neWundlu, neWundlu liyakuwanqoba, ngokuba liyiNkosi yamakhosi noMbusi wababusi, nabakanye nalo, ababiziweyo, nabakhethiweyo, nabathembekileyo.” (IsAmbulo 17:12, 14) AmaKristu athembekile ayonqoba nakanjani uma ehlala ethembekile eNkosini yawo enkulu nenqobayo. Amabutho kaGogi ayobhujiswa ngokuphelele.—Hezekeli 39:3, 4, 17-19; IsAmbulo 19:17-21.
20. Yiziphi izibusiso usuku lweNkosi oluyozilethela amaKristu athembekile osizini olukhulu?
20 Ngakho, usuku lweNkosi lusho insindiso kubantu bakaNkulunkulu. Labo babagcotshiwe abayobe besaphila njengabantu osizini olukhulu izikhundla zabo zasezulwini ziyoqinisekiswa, futhi bayozimisela ngokungantengantengi ukuba baqede inkambo yabo yasemhlabeni ngokwethembeka. (IsAmbulo 7:1-3; 2 Thimothewu 4:6-8) Isixuku esikhulu naso siyosinda futhi uJesu ‘uyosiholela emithonjeni yamanzi okuphila; noNkulunkulu uyakwesula izinyembezi zonke emehlweni aso.’ (IsAmbulo 7:14, 17) Yeka umvuzo omuhle wokukhuthazela ngokwethembeka!
21. Yini eyokwenzeka emhlabeni phakathi nosuku lweNkosi ngemva kosizi olukhulu?
21 Manje, usuku lweNkosi lungenela ibanga elimangalisayo: ukuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane kukaKristu Jesu. (IsAmbulo 20:6, 11-15) Umfula wamanzi okuphila, okwaprofethwa ngawo kokubili kusAmbulo nakuHezekeli, uyogeleza usuka esihlalweni sikaJehova sobukhosi ugelezele esintwini, futhi labo abaphuza kuwo bayolethwa ekupheleleni kobuntu kancane kancane. (Hezekeli 47:1-12; IsAmbulo 22:1, 2) IHayidese liyogeqwa, futhi izinkulungwane zezigidi zalabo abaye bafa nazo ziyoba nethuba lokuphuza kulomfula.—Johane 5:28, 29.
22. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezibaluleke kakhulu ezilindele isintu ekupheleni kweMinyaka Eyinkulungwane Yokubusa kukaKristu?
22 Ekupheleni kweminyaka eyinkulungwane, isintu siyobe sesilethwe ekupheleleni. Yeka isikhathi esifanelekile ngoSathane sokuba avele okokugcina endaweni yasemhlabeni! Uyophinda futhi azame ukukhohlisa isintu, futhi abanye bayomlandela, ngisho nangalesosikhathi. Laba ngokomfanekiso babizwa ngokuthi ‘uGogi noMagogi’ njengoba beyobonakalisa umoya omubi ofanayo nalowo owaboniswa ‘isixuku sikaGogi’ esiprofethweni sikaHezekeli. Kodwa umoya wabo wokuhlubuka uyopheliswa phakade lapho bona, kanye noSathane ngokwakhe namademoni akhe, bephonselwa echibini lomlilo elingokomfanekiso. (IsAmbulo 20:7-10; Hezekeli 39:11) Ikusasa elibusiswe ngempela lilindele labo abayohlala bethembekile phakathi nalolovivinyo lokugcina, khona-ke izinhlanga zabantu abaphelelisiwe ziyoba munye nenhlangano yendawo yonke kaJehova elungileyo. UJehova uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe uyoba “yikho konke kukho konke”!—1 Korinte 15:24, 28; IsAmbulo 20:5.
23. Ngokucabangela isikhathi esiphila kuso, yisiphi iseluleko sikaPawulu esifaneleke kakhulu kumuntu ngamunye wethu ukuba asilalele?
23 Khona-ke yeka izibusiso ezingenakucatshangwa ezisilindele uma sikhuthazela! Khumbula, usuku lweNkosi kakade seluqalile. Izinto ezimangalisayo seziqalile kakade ukwenzeka. Khona-ke, amazwi kaPawulu afanelekile: “Masingakhathali ekwenzeni okuhle, ngokuba siyakuvuna ngesikhathi esifaneleyo, uma singadangali.” (Galathiya 6:9) Ngempela “masingakhathali ekwenzeni okuhle” kulolusuku lweNkosi. Uma sikhuthazela, lolusuku luyosho izinzuzo zaphakade kumuntu ngamunye wethu.
Ingabe Ungachaza?
◻ Siyini isigaba sokuqala sokubhujiswa kwezwe likaSathane?
◻ UJesu ‘uyokuphelelisa’ kanjani ‘ukunqoba kwakhe’ izitha zakhe?
◻ USathane uye walwa kanjani noFakazi BakaJehova phakathi nosuku lweNkosi?
◻ Yiziphi izibusiso eziphawulekayo abantu bakaNkulunkulu abaye bazijabulela kusukela ngo-1919?
◻ Ngokucabangela ukuthi sikuphi manje nohlelo lwezikhathi, yini wena siqu ozimisele ukuyenza?
[Isithombe ekhasini 16]
Isiphelo esibi seJerusalema lasendulo sibonisa lokho okuzokwehlela iBabiloni Elikhulu ngokushesha