ISahluko 18

Ukuzamazama Komhlaba Ngosuku LweNkosi

 1, 2. (a) Kunjani ukuba sendaweni ngesikhathi kunokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu? (b) Yini uJohane ayichazayo lapho kuvulwa uphawu lwesithupha?

INGABE wake waba sendaweni ngesikhathi kunokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu? Akukhona okuhlangenwe nakho okujabulisayo. Ukunyakaza okukhulu kungase kuqale ngobundindindi obuxhaphazelisa amathumbu nomsindo wokuduma. Ukuntengantenga kungase kukhule ngokuxhuzuleka futhi kuqale lapho usabalekela endaweni yokuphepha—mhlawumbe ngaphansi kwetafula. Noma kungase kuze njengokudluthuleka okungalindelekile, kulandelwe ukuphahlazeka kwezitsha, impahla yasendlini, ngisho nezakhiwo. Umonakalo ungase ube yinhlekelele, ulandelwe ukuzamazama okuncane okunezela osizini.

² Unalokhu engqondweni, cabangela lokho uJohane akuchazayo ekuvulweni kophawu lwesithupha: “Ngabona lapho livula uphawu lwesithupha, kwaba khona ukuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu.” (IsAmbulo 6:12a) Lokhu kumelwe kwenzeke ngenkathi efanayo neyokuvulwa kwezinye izimpawu. Lokhu kuzamazama komhlaba kwenzeka nini ngempela osukwini lweNkosi, futhi kuluhlobo luni lokuzamazama?—IsAmbulo 1:10.

 3. (a) Yiziphi izenzakalo uJesu azibikezela esiprofethweni esiphathelene nesibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe? (b) Ukuzamazama komhlaba okungokoqobo kuhlobene kanjani nokuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba kwesAmbulo 6:12 okungokomfanekiso?

³ Ukuzamazama komhlaba okungokoqobo nokungokomfanekiso kuphawulwe kaningi eBhayibhelini. Esiprofethweni sakhe esikhulu sesibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe emandleni oMbuso, uJesu wabikezela ‘ukuzamazama komhlaba ezindaweni ngezindawo.’ Lokhu kwakuyoba yingxenye ‘yokuqala kwemihelo yokucindezeleka.’ Kusukela ngo-1914, inani labantu emhlabeni lifinyelela ezinkulungwaneni zezigidi, ukuzamazama okungokoqobo kuye kwaba nengxenye ephawulekayo ezinsizini zezikhathi zethu. (Mathewu 24:3, 7, 8) Nokho, ngisho nakuba kugcwalisa isiprofetho, lokho kuzamazama komhlaba kuye kwaba yizinhlekelele ezingokwemvelo. Kwandulela ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba okungokomfanekiso kwesAmbulo 6:12. Ngempela, lokhu kuza njengesiphetho esibhubhisayo sochungechunge lokuzamazama okwandulelayo okunyakazisa izisekelo zesimiso sezinto sikaSathane sabantu sasemhlabeni.a

Ukundindizela Emphakathini Wesintu

 4. (a) Abantu bakaJehova bebekulindele kusukela nini ukuthi izehlakalo eziyinhlekelele ziyoqala ngo-1914? (b) U-1914 wayeyophawula ukuphela kwayiphi inkathi yesikhathi?

⁴ Kusukela phakathi kwawo-1870, abantu bakaJehova babelindele ukuthi izehlakalo eziyinhlekelele zaziyoqala ngo-1914 futhi zaziyophawula ukuphela kweZikhathi ZabeZizwe. Lena inkathi ‘yezikhathi eziyisikhombisa’ (iminyaka engu-2 520) esukela ekuchithweni kombuso wendlu kaDavide eJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. kuze kube sekubekweni kukaJesu esihlalweni sobukhosi eJerusalema lasezulwini ngo-1914 C.E.—Daniyeli 4:24, 25; Luka 21:24, IBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile.b

 5. (a) Yisiphi isimemezelo uC. T. Russell asenza ngo-October 2, 1914? (b) Yiziphi izinguquko zezombangazwe eziye zenzeka kusukela ngo-1914?

⁵ Kanjalo, lapho uC. T. Russell, eza enkonzweni yasekuseni yomkhaya waseBethel waseBrooklyn, eNew York, ngo-October 2, 1914, wenza isaziso esivusa amadlingozi: “IZikhathi ZabeZizwe ziphelile; amakhosi azo abusile.” Ngempela, ukuguquka komhlaba wonke okwaqala ngo-1914 kwaba nemiphumela ejule kangangokuthi imibuso eyayinesikhathi eside ikhona yanyamalala. Ukugumbuqelwa kombuso waseRussia (czardom) ekuvukeleni kwamaBolshevik ngo-1917 kwaholela ekubhekaneni ngeziqu zamehlo okwadonsa isikhathi eside phakathi kwemibuso yobukhomanisi bukaMarx neyokuhweba ngokukhululekile. Ukundindizela kwenguquko yezombangazwe kuyaqhubeka kuphazamisa umphakathi wesintu emhlabeni wonke. Namuhla, ohulumeni abaningi bayahluleka ukuma isikhathi esingaphezu konyaka noma emibili. Ukuntuleka kokuqina kwezombangazwe kubonakala endabeni ye-Italy, ebe nohulumeni abasha abangu-47 eminyakeni engu-42 ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II. Kodwa ukundindizela okunjalo kumane kuyizandulela zomvuthwandaba wezinguquko kohulumeni. Umphumela uyoba yini? UMbuso kaNkulunkulu uyobusa wonke umhlaba.—Isaya 9:6, 7.

 6. (a) UH. G. Wells wayichaza kanjani inkathi entsha nebalulekile? (b) Yini eyabhalwa isazi sefilosofi nesiphathimandla sikahulumeni ngenkathi esukela ku-1914?

⁶ Izazimlando, izazi zefilosofi, nabaholi bezombangazwe baye bakhomba onyakeni ka-1914 njengowukuqala kwenkathi entsha nebalulekile. Eminyakeni eyishumi nesikhombisa kungeniwe kuleyo nkathi, isazimlando uH. G. Wells saphawula: “Umprofethi angaprofetha ngenjabulo ngezinto ezijabulisayo. Kodwa umsebenzi wakhe uwukusho lokho akubonayo. Ubona izwe elisalawulwa ngokunamandla amasosha, abashisekeli bezwe, ababolekisa ngezimali ngenzalo enkulu ngokweqile, nosomabhizinisi abangamaqili; izwe elinikelwe ezinsolweni nasenzondweni, elilahlekelwa ngokushesha okukhulu yilokho okusele kwenkululeko yangasese, eliphuphuthekela ezingxabanweni ezimbi zezigaba zomphakathi, futhi elilungiselela izimpi ezintsha.” Ngo-1953 isazi sefilosofi uBertrand Russell sabhala: “Kusukela ngo-1914, wonke umuntu okuqaphelayo ukuthambekela kwezwe uye wakhathazeka ngokujulile ngenxa yalokho okuye kwabonakala kufana nohambo olunqunywe kusengaphambili oluya enhlekeleleni enkulu ngokwengeziwe. . . . Babona isintu, njengeqhawe lendaba yamaGreki enesiphetho esibuhlungu, siqhutshwa onkulunkulu abathukuthele singaseyena umlawuli wekusasa.” Ngo-1980 isiphathimandla sikahulumeni uHarold Macmillan, sikhumbula isiqalo esinokuthula sekhulu lama-20, sathi: “Yonke into izoqhubeka iba ngcono. Leli yizwe engazalelwa kulo. . . . Ngokushesha, kungazelelwe, ngokunye ukusa ngo-1914 yonke into yafinyelela ekupheleni.”

 7-9. (a) Yiziphi izinguquko eziye zanyakazisa umphakathi wesintu kusukela ngo-1914? (b) Izinguquko emphakathini phakathi nokuba khona kukaJesu ziyogcina zibabeke kusiphi isimo abantu?

⁷ IMpi Yezwe II yaletha elinye igagasi lezinguquko. Futhi izimpi ezincane kanye nobuphekula emazweni amaningi kuyaqhubeka kunyakazisa umhlaba. Ukusongela okusabisayo kwamaphekula noma kwezizwe ezisebenzisa izikhali ezibulala abantu ngobuningi kwenza abantu abaningi bangabaze.

⁸ Nokho, ezinye izinto ngaphandle kwezimpi ziye zanyakazisa izisekelo zomphakathi wesintu kusukela ngo-1914. Olunye lwezinguquko ezishaqisayo lwabangelwa ukuwa kwemakethe yamasheya yase-U.S. ngo-October 29, 1929. Lokhu kwaletha Ukuwa Okukhulu Kwezomnotho, okwathinta wonke amazwe ahweba ngokukhululekile. Lokho kuwa kwezomnotho kwaba kubi kakhulu phakathi no-1932 no-1934, kodwa sisayizwa imiphumela yakho. Kusukela ngo-1929 izwe eligulayo ngokomnotho liye lachibiyelwa ngamacebo okucacamezela. Ohulumeni baphila ngezikweleti. Inkinga kawoyela ka-1973 nokuwa kwezimakethe zezimali ngo-1987 kwanezela ekushukumeni kombuso wezezimali. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, izigidi zabantu zithenga ikakhulukazi ngesikweleti. Abantu abangenakubalwa bayizisulu zabakhohlisi bezezimali, amacebo okwandisa imali, ukugembula ngamathikithi nezinye izindlela zokukhohlisa kokugembula, okuningi kwakho okuxhaswa ohulumeni obekufanele ngabe bavikela abantu. Ngisho nabavangeli bakumathelevishini beLobukholwa bakhangezile bafuna ingxenye yabo eyizigidigidi zamaRandi!—Qhathanisa noJeremiya 5:26-31.

⁹ Ngaphambili, izinkinga zezomnotho zazivule indlela yokuba uMussolini noHitler bathathe amandla okubusa. IBhabhiloni Elikhulu alichithanga sikhathi ekuzincengeleni kubona, futhi iVatican yenza izivumelwano ne-Italy ngo-1929 neJalimane ngo-1933. (IsAmbulo 17:5) Ngokuqinisekile izinsuku zobumnyama ezalandela zaziyingxenye yokugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaJesu sokuba khona kwakhe, okwakuyohlanganisa “usizi lwezizwe, . . . zingayazi indlela yokuphuma . . . kuyilapho abantu beba nesinxi ngenxa yokwesaba nokulindela izinto ezehlela umhlaba owakhiweyo.” (Luka 21:7-9, 25-31)c Yebo, ukuzamazama okwaqala ukunyakazisa umphakathi wesintu ngo-1914 kuye kwaqhubeka, kulandelwa ukundindizela okunamandla.

UJehova Uyanyakazisa

10. (a) Kungani kunokundindizela okuningi kangaka ezindabeni zesintu? (b) Yini eyenziwa uJehova, futhi elungiselelani?

¹⁰ Ukundindizela okunjalo ezindabeni zesintu kuwumphumela wokwehluleka komuntu ukuqondisa izinyathelo zakhe. (Jeremiya 10:23) Ngaphezu kwalokho, leyo nyoka endala, uSathane, “odukisa umhlaba wonke owakhiwe,” igadla ngomaye emzamweni wayo wokuzidela amathambo wokuphambukisa sonke isintu ekukhulekeleni uJehova. Ubuchwepheshe banamuhla buye babangela umhlaba ukuba ube umphakathi omncane, lapho inzondo yobuzwe neyobuhlanga inyakazisa izisekelo zomphakathi wesintu, futhi lokho okubizwa ngokuthi iZizwe Ezihlangene, akulitholi ikhambi eliphumelelayo. Ngokungafani nanini ngaphambili, umuntu ubusa omunye kube ukulimala kwakhe. (IsAmbulo 12:9, 12; UmShumayeli 8:9) Nokho, iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova, uMenzi wezulu nomhlaba, beyenza olwayo uhlobo lokunyakazisa eminyakeni ecishe ibe ngu-90, ekulungiseleleni ukuxazulula izinkinga zomhlaba phakade. Kanjani?

11. (a) Yikuphi ukuzamazama okuchazwa kuHagayi 2:6, 7? (b) Sigcwaliseka kanjani isiprofetho sikaHagayi?

¹¹ KuHagayi 2:6, 7 siyafunda: “Ngoba yilokhu uJehova wamabutho akushilo, ‘Kusazoba kanye—yisikhashana nje—ngizamazamise amazulu nomhlaba nolwandle nomhlabathi owomile. Ngizozamazamisa zonke izizwe, futhi izinto ezifiselekayo zazo zonke izizwe zizongena; ngizoyigcwalisa le ndlu ngenkazimulo,’ kusho uJehova wamabutho.” Ikakhulukazi kusukela ngonyaka ka-1919, uJehova uye wabangela ofakazi bakhe ukuba bamemezele izahlulelo zakhe kuzo zonke izingxenye zomphakathi wesintu emhlabeni. Isimiso sezwe likaSathane siye saziswa ngalesi sixwayiso sembulunga yonke.d Njengoba isixwayiso siya siba namandla, abantu abesaba uNkulunkulu, “izinto ezifiselekayo,” baye bashukunyiselwa ukuba bazihlukanise nezizwe. Akukhona ukuthi bakhishwa ukuzamazama enhlanganweni kaSathane. Kodwa njengoba bebona isimo, benza isinqumo sabo siqu sokuhlanganyela nesigaba sikaJohane esigcotshiwe, ekugcwaliseni indlu kaJehova yokukhulekela ngenkazimulo. Kufezwa kanjani lokhu? Ngomsebenzi wentshiseko wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu omisiwe. (Mathewu 24:14) Lo Mbuso, owakhiwe uJesu nabalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe, uyokuma njalo kube yinkazimulo kuJehova ‘njengombuso ongenakunyakaziswa.’—Hebheru 12:26-29.

12. Uma usuqalile ukusabela ekushumayeleni okwabikezelwa kuMathewu 24:14, kufanele wenzeni ngaphambi kokuba ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba kwesAmbulo 6:12 kwenzeke?

¹² Ingabe ungomunye oseye waqala ukusabela kulokho kushumayela? Ingabe mhlawumbe uphakathi kwezigidi eziye zaba khona ekugujweni kweSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaJesu eminyakeni yamuva? Uma kunjalo, qhubeka uthuthuka ekutadisheni kwakho iqiniso leBhayibheli. (2 Thimothewu 2:15; 3:16, 17) Yilahle ngokuphelele indlela yokuphila eyonakele yomphakathi kaSathane olahliwe wasemhlabeni! Ngena emphakathini wezwe elisha wobuKristu futhi uhlanganyele ngokugcwele emsebenzini wawo ngaphambi kokuba “ukuzamazama” kokugcina okuyinhlekelele kuphihlize lonke izwe likaSathane libe yizicucu. Kodwa kuyini lokho kuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu? Ake sibone manje.

Ukuzamazama Komhlaba Okukhulu!

13. Kungayiphi indlela ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba kukusha ngokuphelele kubantu?

¹³ Yebo, lezi zinsuku zokugcina ezinzima ziye zaba yisikhathi sokuzamazama komhlaba—okungokoqobo nokungokomfanekiso. (2 Thimothewu 3:1) Kodwa akukho nokukodwa kulokhu kuzamazama okuwukuzamazama okukhulu kokugcina uJohane akubonayo ekuvulweni kophawu lwesithupha. Isikhathi sokuzamazama okwandulelayo sesiphelile. Manje kuza ukuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu okusha ngokuphelele kubantu. Kuwukuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu kangangokuthi izinguquko nokushukuma okukubangelayo akunakukalwa ngesikali sikaRichter noma nganoma yisiphi esinye isikali somuntu. Lokhu akukhona nje ukudikizela kwendawo ethile kodwa ukunyakaza okuyinhlekelele okubhubhisa “umhlaba” wonke, okungukuthi, wonke umphakathi wesintu owonakele.

14. (a) Isiphi isiprofetho esibikezela ngokuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba nemiphumela yakho? (b) Kumelwe ukuba isiprofetho sikaJoweli nesAmbulo 6:12, 13 zibhekiselaphi?

¹⁴ Abanye babaprofethi bakaJehova babikezela ngokuzamazama komhlaba okunjalo nemiphumela yakho eyinhlekelele. Ngokwesibonelo, cishe ngo-820 B.C.E., uJoweli wakhuluma ‘ngokufika kosuku lukaJehova olukhulu nolwesabekayo,’ ethi ngaleso sikhathi “ilanga liyophenduka ubumnyama, inyanga ibe yigazi.” Kamuva, unezela la mazwi: “Izixuku, izixuku zisethafeni eliphansi lesinqumo, ngoba usuku lukaJehova luseduze ethafeni eliphansi lesinqumo. Ilanga nenyanga ngokuqinisekile kuyoba mnyama, futhi izinkanyezi empeleni ziyokuhoxisa ukukhanya kwazo. UJehova uyobhonga eseZiyoni, azwakalise izwi lakhe eseJerusalema. Ngokuqinisekile izulu nomhlaba kuyozamazama; kodwa uJehova uyoba yisiphephelo sabantu bakhe nenqaba yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.” (Joweli 2:31; 3:14-16) Lokhu kuzamazama kungabhekisela kuphela ekukhipheni kukaJehova isahlulelo ngosizi olukhulu. (Mathewu 24:21) Khona-ke ngokunengqondo, indaba efanayo ekusAmbulo 6:12, 13 ingasebenza ngokufanayo.—Bheka futhi uJeremiya 10:10; Zefaniya 1:14, 15.

15. Yikuphi ukunyakazisa okunamandla umprofethi uHabakuki akubikezela?

¹⁵ Eminyakeni engaba ngu-200 ngemva kukaJoweli, umprofethi uHabakuki wathi emthandazweni kuNkulunkulu wakhe: “O Jehova, ngiwuzwile umbiko ngawe. O Jehova, sengiyawesaba umsebenzi wakho. Kwangathi ungawenza uphile phakathi neminyaka! Kwangathi ungawenza waziwe phakathi neminyaka. Ngesikhathi sokuyaluza, kwangathi ungakhumbula ukubonisa isihe.” Kwakungaba yini lokhu “kuyaluza”? UHabakuki uyaqhubeka anikeze incazelo ecacile yosizi olukhulu ethi ngoJehova: “Wema, ukuze anyakazise umhlaba. Wabona, wayesebangela izizwe ukuba ziqhashe. . . . Wadabula emhlabeni ulahla. Wabhula izizwe uthukuthele. Nokho, mina, ngiyokwethaba ngoJehova ngokwakhe; ngiyojabula ngoNkulunkulu wensindiso yami.” (Habakuki 3:1, 2, 6, 12, 18) Yeka ukunyakaza okunamandla uJehova ayokubangela emhlabeni wonke lapho ebhula izizwe!

16. (a) Yini ebikezelwa umprofethi uHezekeli ngesikhathi lapho uSathane ehlasela okokugcina abantu bakaNkulunkulu? (b) Yini eba umphumela wokuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba kwesAmbulo 6:12?

¹⁶ NoHezekeli futhi, wabikezela ukuthi lapho uGogi wakwaMagogi, (uSathane othotshisiwe) ehlasela okokugcina kubantu bakaNkulunkulu, uJehova uyobangela ukuba kwenzeke “ukuzamazama okukhulu ezweni lakwa-Israyeli.” (Hezekeli 38:18, 19) Nakuba kungase kuhileleke ukuzamazama komhlaba okungokoqobo, kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi isAmbulo sivezwa ngezibonakaliso. Lesi siprofetho nezinye eziphawuliwe zingokomfanekiso kakhulu. Ngakho, ukuvulwa kophawu lwesithupha kubonakala kwembula umvuthwandaba wakho konke ukuzanyazanyiswa kwesimiso sezinto sasemhlabeni—ukuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu lapho bonke abantu abamelene nobukhosi bukaJehova uNkulunkulu bebhujiswa khona.

Isikhathi Sobumnyama

17. Ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba kulithinta kanjani ilanga, inyanga, nezinkanyezi?

¹⁷ Njengoba uJohane eqhubeka ebonisa, ukuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu kuhambisana nezehlakalo ezisabisayo ezihilela ngisho namazulu. Uthi: “Ilanga laba mnyama njengendwangu yesaka yoboya, yonke inyanga yaba njengegazi, izinkanyezi zezulu zawela emhlabeni, njengalapho umkhiwane onyakaziswa umoya omkhulu uwisa amakhiwane awo aluhlaza.” (IsAmbulo 6:12b, 13) Yeka isenzakalo esimangalisayo! Ungabucabanga ubumnyama obusabisayo obebungaba khona uma lesi siprofetho besingagcwaliseka ngokoqobo? Kungasekho ukukhanya kwelanga okufudumele, okuthokomalisayo emini! Kungasekho ukukhanya kwenyanga okunobungane, okukhazimulayo ebusuku! Nezigidigidi zezinkanyezi zingasalokozi esibhakabhakeni esicwathile. Esikhundleni salokho, kube khona ubumnyama obubandayo obungapheli.—Qhathanisa noMathewu 24:29.

18. Kungayiphi indlela ‘amazulu aba mnyama’ eJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E.?

¹⁸ Ngomqondo ongokomoya, ubumnyama obunjalo babuprofethwe ngokuqondene no-Israyeli wasendulo. UJeremiya waxwayisa: “Izwe lonke liyoba yihlane eliyincithakalo, futhi ngeke yini ngiqothule ngokuphelele? Ngenxa yalokhu izwe liyolila, namazulu phezulu ngokuqinisekile ayoba mnyama.” (Jeremiya 4:27, 28) Ngo-607 B.C.E. lapho leso siprofetho sigcwaliseka, ngempela izinto zazimnyama kubantu bakaJehova. Inhloko-dolobha yabo, iJerusalema, yawela kwabaseBhabhiloni. Ithempeli labo labhujiswa, futhi izwe labo lasala lingenamuntu. Abatholanga kukhanya okududuzayo okuvela ezulwini. Kunalokho, kwakunjengoba uJeremiya asho kuJehova ngokukhala ethi: “Ubulele; awuzange ubonise ububele. Uvimbile ngongqimba lwamafu ukuba kungasondelwa kuwe, ukuze umthandazo ungadluli.” (IsiLilo 3:43, 44) NgeJerusalema, lobo bumnyama basezulwini basho ukufa nokubhujiswa.

19. (a) U-Isaya umprofethi kaNkulunkulu ubuchaza kanjani ubumnyama emazulwini ngokuqondene neBhabhiloni lasendulo? (b) Isiprofetho sika-Isaya sagcwaliseka nini futhi kanjani?

¹⁹ Kamuva, ubumnyama obufanayo emazulwini basho inhlekelele ngeBhabhiloni lasendulo. Ngalokhu, umprofethi kaNkulunkulu waphefumulelwa ukuba abhale: “Bheka! Usuku lukaJehova luyeza, lunonya ngokufutheka nangentukuthelo evuthayo, ukuze lwenze izwe libe yinto eshaqisayo, futhi lubhuqe izoni zezwe ziphele kulo. Ngoba zona kanye izinkanyezi zamazulu nemilaza yazo yeKhesili ngeke zibaneke ukukhanya kwazo; empeleni ilanga liyoba mnyama ekuphumeni kwalo, nenyanga ngeke ikwenze kukhanye ukukhanya kwayo. Ngokuqinisekile ngizobuyisela ububi balo phezu kwezwe elikhiqizayo, nesiphambeko sabo phezu kwabantu ababi ngokwabo.” (Isaya 13:9-11) Lesi siprofetho sagcwaliseka ngo-539 B.C.E. lapho iBhabhiloni liwela kumaMede namaPheresiya. Sibuchaza kahle ubumnyama, ukungabi nathemba, ukuntula kweBhabhiloni noma yikuphi ukukhanya okududuzayo njengoba laliwa unomphela esikhundleni salo njengombuso wezwe.

20. Yimuphi umphumela owesabekayo olindele lesi simiso sezinto lapho kuqala ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba?

²⁰ Ngendlela efanayo, lapho ukuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu kwenzeka, sonke lesi simiso sezwe siyositshekelwa ukungabi nathemba kobumnyama obuphelele. Izinkanyiso ezikhazimulayo zesimiso sikaSathane sasemhlabeni aziyikukhipha misebe yethemba. Kakade namuhla, abaholi bomhlaba bezombangazwe, ikakhulukazi kweLobukholwa, badume ngokonakala kwabo, ukuqamba amanga, nokuphila kokuziphatha okubi. (Isaya 28:14-19) Abasenakwethenjwa. Ukukhanya kwabo okulokozayo kuyocima ngokuphelele lapho uJehova ekhipha isahlulelo. Ithonya labo elinjengenyanga ezindabeni zomhlaba liyokwembulwa njengeligcwele igazi, nelibulalayo. Izilomo zabo zezwe ziyocinywa njengezinkanyezi ezicwilayo futhi zisakazwe njengamakhiwane aluhlaza esivunguvungwini esinamandla. Yonke imbulunga yethu iyozamazama ‘osizini olukhulu olungakaze lube khona kusukela ekuqaleni kwezwe kuze kube manje, cha, futhi olungasayikuphinde lube khona.’ (Mathewu 24:21) Yeka ikusasa elisabekayo!

“Izulu” Liyamuka

21. Embonweni wakhe, yini uJohane ayibonayo ngokuqondene ‘nezulu’ nazo “zonke izintaba nazo zonke iziqhingi”?

²¹ Umbono kaJohane uyaqhubeka: “Izulu lamuka njengomqulu ugoqwa, zonke izintaba nazo zonke iziqhingi zasuswa ezindaweni zazo.” (IsAmbulo 6:14) Ngokukhanyayo, lawa akuwona amazulu angokoqobo noma izintaba neziqhingi ezingokoqobo. Kodwa kufanekiselani?

22. Kwa-Edomi hlobo luni ‘lwezulu’ ‘elamuka njengomqulu’?

²² Ngokuqondene ‘nezulu,’ sisizwa ukuba siliqonde yisiprofetho esifanayo esikhuluma ngolaka lukaJehova kuzo zonke izizwe: “Bonke abebutho lamazulu bayobola baphele. Namazulu ayogoqwa, njengomqulu wencwadi.” (Isaya 34:4) I-Edomi ngokukhethekile kumelwe lihlupheke. Kanjani? Lanqotshwa abaseBhabhiloni ngokushesha ngemva kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. Ngaleso sikhathi, akukho zenzakalo ezivelele ezalotshwa njengezenzeka emazulwini angokoqobo. Kodwa kwakunezenzakalo eziyinhlekelele ‘emazulwini’ akwa-Edomi.e Imibuso yalo yohulumeni babantu yehliswa esikhundleni sayo esiphakeme, esinjengezulu. (Isaya 34:5) Kunjengokungathi ‘yagoqwa’ yabekwa eceleni njengencwadi endala engasenamsebenzi.

23. Liyini “izulu” ‘eliyomuka njengomqulu,’ futhi amazwi kaPetru akuqinisekisa kanjani lokhu kuqonda?

²³ Kanjalo, “izulu” ‘eliyomuka njengomqulu’ libhekisela kohulumeni abamelene noNkulunkulu ababusa kulo mhlaba. Bayosuswa okokugcina uMgibeli wehhashi elimhlophe onqoba konke. (IsAmbulo 19:11-16, 19-21) Lokhu kuqinisekiswa yilokho umphostoli uPetru akusho lapho ebheka phambili ezehlakalweni ezafanekiselwa ukuvulwa kophawu lwesithupha: “Amazulu nomhlaba okukhona manje abekelwe umlilo futhi ayagcinwa kuze kube sosukwini lokwahlulelwa nolokubhujiswa kwabantu abangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu.” (2 Petru 3:7) Kodwa kuthiwani ngenkulumo ethi, “zonke izintaba nazo zonke iziqhingi zasuswa ezindaweni zazo”?

24. (a) Kunini, esiprofethweni seBhayibheli, lapho izintaba neziqhingi kuthiwa ziyazamazama noma ziyanyakaziswa? (b) ‘Izintaba zazamazama’ kanjani lapho iNineve liwa?

²⁴ Esiprofethweni seBhayibheli, izintaba neziqhingi kuthiwa ziyazamazama noma zinyakaziswe ngandlela-thile ezikhathini zokuphazamiseka okukhulu kwezombangazwe. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho ebikezela ngezahlulelo zikaJehova eNineve, umprofethi uNahume wabhala: “Izintaba ziye zazamazama ngenxa yakhe, namagquma azithola encibilika. Umhlaba uyofukuka ngenxa yobuso bakhe.” (Nahume 1:5) Akukho mlando wokuqhephuka kwezintaba ezingokoqobo lapho iNineve liwa ngo-632 B.C.E. Kodwa umbuso wezwe ngaphambili owawubonakala unjengentaba ngamandla wawa ngokuzumayo.—Qhathanisa noJeremiya 4:24.

25. Ekupheleni kwalesi simiso sezinto okuzayo, ziyosuswa kanjani ezindaweni zazo “zonke izintaba nazo zonke iziqhingi”?

²⁵ Ngakho, “zonke izintaba nazo zonke iziqhingi” njengoba kubhekiselwe kuzo ekuvulweni kophawu lwesithupha ngokunengqondo zingaba ohulumeni bezombangazwe nezinhlangano ezizimele zaleli zwe eziye zabonakala ziqine kakhulu kwabaningi besintu. Ziyozanyazanyiswa zisuke ezindaweni zazo, bamangale futhi bethuke labo abebethembele kuzo. Njengoba isiprofetho siqhubeka silandisa, ngeke kube nakungabaza ukuthi usuku olukhulu lwentukuthelo kaJehova neNdodana yakhe—ukuzamazama kokugcina okususa yonke inhlangano kaSathane—lufiké nempindiselo!

“Welani Phezu Kwethu Nisifihle”

26. Abantu abaphikisa ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu bayokwenzani ekwesabeni kwabo, futhi yimaphi amazwi okwethuka abayowasho?

²⁶ Amazwi kaJohane ayaqhubeka: “Amakhosi omhlaba nabasezikhundleni eziphezulu nabalawuli bamabutho nabacebile nabanamandla nazo zonke izigqila nabo bonke abantu abakhululekile bazifihla emihumeni nasemadwaleni asezintabeni. Baqhubeka bethi ezintabeni nasemadwaleni: ‘Welani phezu kwethu nisifihle ebusweni baLowo ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi nasolakeni lweWundlu, ngoba usuku olukhulu lolaka lwabo selufikile, futhi ubani okwaziyo ukuma na?’”—IsAmbulo 6:15-17.

27. Yimaphi amazwi okukhala ashiwo ama-Israyeli angathembekile aseSamariya, futhi lawo mazwi agcwaliseka kanjani?

²⁷ Lapho uHoseya ememezela isahlulelo sikaJehova eSamariya, inhloko-dolobha yombuso wakwa-Israyeli wasenyakatho, wathi: “Izindawo eziphakeme zaseBheti-aveni, isono sika-Israyeli, empeleni ziyobhuqwa. Kuyovela ameva namakhakhasi ema-altare azo. Eqinisweni abantu bayothi ezintabeni, ‘Simbozeni!’ futhi emagqumeni bayothi, ‘Welani phezu kwethu!’” (Hoseya 10:8) Agcwaliseka kanjani la mazwi? Lapho iSamariya liwela kuma-Asiriya anonya ngo-740 B.C.E., kwakungekho lapho ama-Israyeli ayengabalekela khona. Amazwi kaHoseya abonisa umuzwa wokungabi nalusizo, wokwesaba okukhulu, nowokulahlwa abantu abanqotshiwe ababa nawo. Amagquma angokoqobo nezinhlangano zaseSamariya ezifana nezintaba zazingenakubavikela, ngisho nakuba esikhathini esidlule zazibonakala zimi phakade.

28. (a) Yisiphi isixwayiso uJesu axwayisa ngaso abesifazane baseJerusalema? (b) Sagcwaliseka kanjani isixwayiso sikaJesu?

²⁸ Ngokufanayo, lapho uJesu eholelwa ekufeni kwakhe amabutho amaRoma, wabhekisela kwabesifazane baseJerusalema wathi: “Ziyeza izinsuku abantu abayokuthi ngazo, ‘Bayajabula abesifazane abayizinyumba, nezibeletho ezingazalanga namabele angancelisanga!’ Khona-ke bayokuthi ezintabeni, ‘Welani phezu kwethu!’ bathi emagqumeni, ‘Simbozeni!’” (Luka 23:29, 30) Umbhalo wokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngamaRoma ngo-70 C.E. ugcinwe kahle, futhi kusobala ukuthi amazwi kaJesu ayenokubaluleka okufanayo namazwi kaHoseya. Ngaleso sikhathi kwakungekho ndawo yokucasha ngamaJuda ayesele eJudiya. Noma kuphi lapho ayezama ukucasha khona eJerusalema, noma ngisho nalapho ebalekela enqabeni yaseMasada esiqongweni sentaba, awakwazanga ukuphunyula ekubonisweni kwesahlulelo sikaJehova ngendluzula.

29. (a) Lapho usuku lukaJehova lwentukuthelo lufika, siyoba yini isimo salabo abasekela lesi simiso sezinto? (b) Yisiphi isiprofetho sikaJesu esiyogcwaliseka lapho uJehova ebonakalisa intukuthelo yakhe?

²⁹ Manje, ukuvulwa kophawu lwesithupha kuye kwabonisa ukuthi into efanayo iyokwenzeka phakathi nosuku lwentukuthelo kaJehova oluzayo. Ekunyakazisweni kokugcina kwalesi simiso sezinto sasemhlabeni, labo abasisekelayo bayofuna indawo yokucasha, kodwa ngeke bayithole. Inkolo yamanga, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu, kakade isibadumaze kabuhlungu. Imigede ezintabeni ezingokoqobo noma izinhlangano zezombangazwe nezomnotho ezinjengezintaba ezingokomfanekiso ngeke zikunikeze ukulondeka okungokwezimali noma yiluphi olunye uhlobo losizo. Akukho okuyobavikela olakeni lukaJehova. Ukwesaba kwabo kuchazwe kahle uJesu: “Khona-ke isibonakaliso seNdodana yomuntu siyobonakala ezulwini, bese zonke izizwe zomhlaba zizishaya zilila, futhi ziyobona iNdodana yomuntu iza iphezu kwamafu ezulu inamandla nenkazimulo enkulu.”—Mathewu 24:30.

30. (a) Usikiselani umbuzo othi: “Ubani okwaziyo ukuma na?” (b) Ingabe bakhona abayokwazi ukuma ngesikhathi sesahlulelo sikaJehova?

³⁰ Yebo, labo abaye benqaba ukuqaphela igunya loMgibeli onqobayo wehhashi elimhlophe bayophoqeleka ukuba bavume iphutha labo. Abantu abaye baba yingxenye yenzalo yenyoka ngokuzithandela bayobhekana nembubhiso lapho izwe likaSathane lidlula. (Genesise 3:15; 1 Johane 2:17) Isimo sezwe ngaleso sikhathi siyoba sibi kangangokuthi abaningi, ngamanye amazwi, bayobuza: “Ubani okwaziyo ukuma na?” Ngokusobala bayocabanga ukuthi akukho noyedwa ongama amukelekile phambi kukaJehova ngaleso sikhathi sokwahlulela. Kodwa bayobe benza iphutha, njengoba incwadi yesAmbulo iqhubeka ibonisa.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 105]

U-1914 Wabonwa Kusengaphambili

“Kwakungo-B.C. 606, lapho umbuso kaNkulunkulu waphela khona, umqhele wasuswa, futhi wonke umhlaba wanikelwa kwabeZizwe. Iminyaka engu-2 520 kusukela ku-B.C. 606, iyophela ngo-A.D. 1914.”f—The Three Worlds, eyakhishwa ngo-1877, ikhasi 83.

“Ubufakazi beBhayibheli bucacile futhi bunamandla ngokuthi ‘iziKhathi Zabezizwe’ ziyinkathi yeminyaka engu-2 520, kusukela ngonyaka ka-B.C. 606 kuya futhi kuhlanganisa no-A.D. 1914.”—Studies in the Scriptures, Umqulu 2, eyabhalwa nguC. T. Russell futhi yakhishwa ngo-1889, ikhasi 79.

UCharles Taze Russell nabaFundi BeBhayibheli abakanye naye baqaphela emashumini eminyaka ngaphambili ukuthi u-1914 wawuyophawula ukuphela kweZikhathi ZabeZizwe, noma izikhathi ezimisiwe zabezizwe. (Luka 21:24) Nakuba ngalezo zinsuku zakudala babengaqondi ngokugcwele ukuthi lokhu kwakuyoshoni, babeqiniseka ukuthi u-1914 wawuzoba usuku olubalulekile emlandweni wezwe, futhi babeqinisile. Phawula ingcaphuno yephepha­ndaba elandelayo:

“Ukugqashuka kwempi okwesabekayo eYurophu kuye kwagcwalisa isiprofetho esingavamile. Iminyaka engamashumi amabili nanhlanu edlule, ngabashumayeli nangezincwadi, ‘AbaFundi BeBhayibheli Bamazwe Onke,’ abaziwa kakhulu ngokuthi ‘AmaMillennial Dawners,’ bebememezela emhlabeni ukuthi uSuku Lwentukuthelo okwaprofethwa ngalo eBhayibhelini lwaluyoqala ngo-1914. Ukuthi ‘Qaphelani u-1914!’ bekuyisimemezelo samakhulu abavangeli abahamba izindawo ngezindawo.”—The World, iphephandaba laseNew York, lika-August 30, 1914.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 106]

U-1914—Inkathi Yenguquko

Incwadi ethi Politikens Verdenshistorie—Historiens Magt og Mening (Umlando Wezwe Ka-Politiken—Amandla Nencazelo Yomlando), eyasakazwa ngo-1987 eCopenhagen, iphawula lokhu okulandelayo ekhasini 40:

“Ukholo lwekhulu leminyaka le-19 oluthuthukayo lwathola igalelo lalo elibulalayo ngo-1914. Ngonyaka ongaphambi kokugqashuka kwempi, isazimlando nosombangazwe waseDenmark uPeter Munch wabhala ngethemba: ‘Bonke ubufakazi buyaphikisana nethuba lokuba khona kwempi phakathi kwemibuso emikhulu yaseYurophu. “Ingozi yempi” nayo iyonyamalala esikhathini esizayo, njengoba iye yenza ngokuphindaphindiwe kusukela ngo-1871.’

“Ngokuphambene, embikweni wakhe wakamuva siyafunda: ‘Ukugqashuka kwempi ngo-1914 kuyinguquko enkulu emlandweni wesintu. Sisuka enkathini ekhanyayo yentuthuko, lapho iminako yayingase ilandelwe ngokulondeka okusesilinganisweni, sangena enkathini yenhlekelele, ukwesaba, inzondo, ukungalondeki yonke indawo. Akekho owayengasho, futhi ngisho nanamuhla akekho ongasho, noma ubumnyama obasehlela ngaleso sikhathi buyosho ukubhujiswa kwaphakade kwaso sonke isimiso sempucuko umuntu aye wazakhela sona ezinkulungwaneni zeminyaka edlule.’”

[Isithombe ekhasini 110]

‘Zonke izintaba zasuswa ezindaweni zazo’

[Isithombe ekhasini 111]

Bacasha emihumeni