Isahluko Seshumi Nanye

Isikhathi Sokuza KukaMesiya Siyembulwa

 1. Njengoba uJehova enguMgcini-sikhathi Omkhulu, yini esingaqiniseka ngayo?

UJEHOVA unguMgcini-sikhathi Omkhulu. Zonke izikhathi nezinkathi ezihlobene nomsebenzi wakhe zilawulwa nguye. (IzEnzo 1:7) Zonke izenzakalo afuna zenzeke ngalezi zikhathi nezinkathi zizokwenzeka nakanjani. Ngeke zingenzeki.

 2, 3. UDaniyeli wagxilisa ukunaka kwakhe kusiphi isiprofetho, futhi imuphi umbuso owawubusa eBabiloni ngaleso sikhathi?

² Njengomfundi okhuthele wemiBhalo, umprofethi uDaniyeli wayenokholo lokuthi uJehova uyakwazi ukumisa isikhathi sezenzakalo futhi azenze zenzeke. UDaniyeli wayenesithakazelo ngokukhethekile eziprofethweni ezimayelana nokubhujiswa kweJerusalema. UJeremiya wayebhale isambulo sikaNkulunkulu sokuthi lo muzi ongcwele wawuyohlala isikhathi eside kangakanani uyincithakalo, futhi uDaniyeli wacabangisisa ngokucophelela ngalesi siprofetho. Wabhala: “Ngomnyaka wokuqala kaDariyu indodana ka-Ahashiveroshi, wozalo lwamaMede, owabekwa inkosi phezu kombuso wamaKaledi, ngomnyaka wokuqala wokubusa kwakhe mina Daniyeli ngaqonda ngezincwadi umumo weminyaka elakhuluma ngawo izwi likaJehova kuJeremiya umprofethi ukuba kupheleliswe ukuchithwa kweJerusalema, iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa.”—Daniyeli 9:1, 2; Jeremiya 25:11.

³ Ngaleso sikhathi uDariyu umMede wayebusa ‘embusweni wamaKaledi.’ Isibikezelo sangaphambili sikaDaniyeli lapho echaza umbhalo wesandla owawusodongeni sasigcwaliseke ngokushesha. Wawungasekho uMbuso WaseBabiloni. Waba ‘ngowamaMede namaPheresiya’ ngo-539 B.C.E.—Daniyeli 5:24-28, 30, 31.

UDANIYELI UNXUSA UJEHOVA NGOKUTHOBEKA

 4. (a) Yini eyayidingeka ukuze umuntu asindiswe nguNkulunkulu? (b) UDaniyeli waya kanjani kuJehova?

⁴ UDaniyeli wayeqonda ukuthi ukuba yincithakalo kweJerusalema iminyaka engu-70 kwase kuzophela. Wayezokwenzenjani? Yena ngokwakhe uyasitshela: “Ngase ngibhekisa ubuso bami kuyo iNkosi uNkulunkulu ukuba ngikhuleke, nginxuse ngokuzila ukudla, nangendwangu yamasaka, nangomlotha. Ngakhuleka kuJehova uNkulunkulu wami, ngavuma.” (Daniyeli 9:3, 4) Kwakudingeka isimo senhliziyo esiqondile ukuze umuntu athole insindiso kaNkulunkulu yesihe. (Levitikusi 26:31-46; 1 AmaKhosi 8:46-53) Kwakudingeka ukholo, umoya wokuthobeka nokuphenduka okuphelele ezonweni ezaziholele ekuthunjweni nasebugqilini. UDaniyeli waya kuNkulunkulu egameni labantu bakubo abanesono. Kanjani? Wazila ukudla, walila, wembatha indwangu yamasaka, okuwuphawu lokuphenduka nokuba qotho kwenhliziyo.

 5. Kungani uDaniyeli ayengazizwa eqiniseka ukuthi amaJuda ayeyobuyiselwa ezweni lawo?

⁵ Isiprofetho sikaJeremiya sasimnikeze ithemba uDaniyeli ngoba sasibonisa ukuthi amaJuda ayesezobuyiselwa ezweni lakubo kwaJuda. (Jeremiya 25:12; 29:10) Akungabazeki ukuthi uDaniyeli wazizwa eqiniseka ukuthi amaJuda ayenqotshiwe ayezoyithola impumuzo ngoba umuntu ogama lakhe linguKoresi wayesebusa njengenkosi ePheresiya. U-Isaya wayengaprofethanga yini ukuthi uKoresi wayeyoba nesandla ekukhululeni amaJuda ukuze ayokwakha kabusha iJerusalema nethempeli? (Isaya 44:28–45:3) Kodwa uDaniyeli wayengazi ukuthi lokho kwakuzokwenzeka kanjani. Ngakho waqhubeka enxusa uJehova.

 6. Yini uDaniyeli ayivuma emthandazweni?

⁶ UDaniyeli wagxila esiheni sikaNkulunkulu nasemseni wakhe wothando. Ngokuthobeka wavuma ukuthi amaJuda ayonile ngokuhlubuka, achezuka emiyalweni kaJehova nangokungabanaki abaprofethi bakhe. UNkulunkulu ‘wayebahlakaze’ kufanele ‘ngenxa yokungathembeki kwabo.’ UDaniyeli wathandaza: “Jehova, kithina kukhona amahloni obuso: kuwo amakhosi ethu, nakuzo izikhulu zethu, nakobaba, ngokuba sonile kuwe. Kepha kuyo iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wethu, kukhona umusa nokuthethelela; ngokuba simhlubukile, asililalelanga izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukuba sihambe ngemithetho yakhe ayibeka phambi kwethu ngezinceku zakhe abaprofethi. Wonke u-Israyeli weqile umthetho wakho, echezuka ukuze bangalilaleli izwi lakho; ngalokho isiqalekiso sithululwe phezu kwethu kanye nesifungo esilotshiwe emthethweni kaMose inceku kaNkulunkulu, ngokuba sonile kuye.”—Daniyeli 9:5-11; Eksodusi 19:5-8; 24:3, 7, 8.

 7. Kungani kungase kuthiwe uJehova wenza into efanele ngokuvumela ukuba amaJuda athunjwe?

⁷ UNkulunkulu wayewaxwayisile ama-Israyeli ngemiphumela yokungamlaleli nokungasinaki isivumelwano ayesenze nawo. (Levitikusi 26:31-33; Duteronomi 28:15; 31:17) UDaniyeli uyavuma ukuthi izenzo zikaNkulunkulu ziyafaneleka, ethi: “Uqinisile amazwi akhe awakhuluma ngathi nangabahluleli bethu abasahlulelayo ngokusehlisela okubi okukhulu, ngokuba phansi kwezulu lonke akwenziwanga njengokwenziwe kulo iJerusalema. Njengokulotshiweyo emthethweni kaMose konke lokhu okubi kusehlele, nokho asincenganga ebusweni bukaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukuba siphenduke ebubini bethu, siqonde iqiniso lakho. UJehova wayesebulinda ububi, wasehlisela bona, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ulungile emisebenzini yakhe yonke ayenzayo, kepha asililalelanga izwi lakhe.”—Daniyeli 9:12-14.

 8. UDaniyeli ukusekelaphi ukunxusa kwakhe uJehova?

⁸ UDaniyeli akafuni ukuthethelela izenzo zabantu bakubo. Kwakufaneleka ukuba bathunjwe, njengoba evuma ngokunganqikazi: “Sonile, senzile okubi.” (Daniyeli 9:15) Futhi ukukhathazeka kwakhe akukhona nje okokufuna ukukhululeka ekuhluphekeni. Cha, unxusa ngenxa yenkazimulo nodumo lukaJehova uqobo. Ngokuxolela amaJuda nokuwabuyisela ezweni lawo, uNkulunkulu wayeyobe efeza isithembiso asenza ngoJeremiya futhi engcwelisa igama laKhe elingcwele. UDaniyeli uyancenga: “Nkosi, ngakho konke ukulunga kwakho mawubuyise intukuthelo yakho nokufutheka kwakho emzini waseJerusalema, intaba yakho engcwele, ngokuba ngenxa yezono zethu nangobubi bawobaba iJerusalema nabantu bakho sebeyihlazo kubo bonke abasizungezayo.”—Daniyeli 9:16.

 9. (a) UDaniyeli uphetha umthandazo wakhe ngakuphi ukunxusa? (b) Yini ecindezela uDaniyeli, kodwa ubonisa kanjani ukuthi uyalikhathalela igama likaNkulunkulu?

⁹ Ngomthandazo oqotho, uDaniyeli uyaqhubeka: “Kalokhu, Nkulunkulu wethu, yizwa umkhuleko wenceku yakho nokunxusa kwayo, ukhanyise ubuso bakho phezu kwendlu yakho engcwele, echithakele ngenxa yeNkosi. Nkulunkulu wami, beka indlebe yakho, uzwe; vula amehlo akho, ubheke izincithakalo zethu nomuzi obizwé ngegama lakho, ngokuba asilethi ukunxusa kwethu phambi kwakho ngenxa yokulunga kwethu kepha ngomusa wakho omkhulu. Nkosi, yizwa; Nkosi, thethelela; Nkosi, lalela, wenze; ungalibali ngenxa yakho, Nkulunkulu wami, ngokuba umuzi nabantu bakho babizwe ngegama lakho.” (Daniyeli 9:17-19) Ukube uNkulunkulu wayengathetheleli futhi washiya abantu bakhe ekuthunjweni, wayeka umuzi wakhe ongcwele iJerusalema wahlala uyincathakalo phakade, ingabe izizwe zaziyombheka njengoMbusi Wendawo Yonke? Zazingeke yini ziphethe ngokuthi uJehova akanamandla kunawonkulunkulu baseBabiloni? Yebo, igama likaJehova laliyohlambalazeka, futhi lokhu kwamcindezela uDaniyeli. Ezikhathini ezingu-19 okuvela ngazo igama laphezulu elithi Jehova encwadini kaDaniyeli, izikhathi ezingu-18 livela kulo mthandazo!—Qhathanisa ne-NW.

UGABRIYELI UFIKA NGOKUSHESHA

10. (a) Ubani owathunywa kuDaniyeli futhi ethunyelwani? (b) Kungani uDaniyeli abiza uGabriyeli ‘ngomuntu’?

¹⁰ Lapho uDaniyeli esathandaza, kufika ingelosi uGabriyeli. Ithi: “Daniyeli, sengiphumile ukukuhlakaniphisa nokukuqondisa. Ekuqaleni kokunxusa kwakho izwi lavela; sengifikile ukukutshela, ngokuba uthandekile; ngalokho qonda leli zwi, uqonde nombono.” Kodwa kungani uDaniyeli eyibiza ngokuthi “lowo muntu uGabriyeli”? (Daniyeli 9:20-23) Phela ngesikhathi uDaniyeli efuna ukuqonda umbono wakhe wangaphambili wempongo nenqama, kwama phambi kwakhe ‘okungathi isimo somuntu.’ Kwakuyingelosi uGabriyeli, eyayithunyelwe ukuba inikeze uDaniyeli ukuqonda. (Daniyeli 8:15-17) Ngokufanayo, ngemva komthandazo kaDaniyeli, le ngelosi yasondela kuye isesimweni somuntu futhi yakhuluma naye njengoba nje umuntu ekhuluma nomunye.

11, 12. (a) Nakuba kwakungekho thempeli noma i-altare likaJehova eBabiloni, amaJuda azinikele akubonisa kanjani ukwazisa ngeminikelo eyayifunwa uMthetho? (b) Kungani uDaniyeli abizwa ngokuthi “uthandekile”?

¹¹ UGabriyeli ufika “ngesikhathi somnikelo wakusihlwa.” I-altare likaJehova lalibhujiswe kanye nethempeli eJerusalema, futhi amaJuda ayeyizithunjwa zabaseBabiloni abangamaqaba. Ngakho amaJuda ayeseBabiloni ayengamenzeli uNkulunkulu imihlatshelo. Nokho, ngezikhathi ezazimiselwe iminikelo ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose, kwakufaneleka ngamaJuda azinikele ayeseBabiloni ukuba adumise futhi anxuse uJehova. Njengomuntu owayezinikele ngokujulile kuNkulunkulu, uDaniyeli wabizwa ngokuthi “uthandekile.” UJehova, “ozwayo imikhuleko,” wajabula ngaye futhi wathuma uGabriyeli ngokushesha ukuba aphendule umthandazo kaDaniyeli wokholo.—IHubo 65:2.

¹² Nakuba ukuthandaza kuJehova kwakukufake engozini ukuphila kwakhe, uDaniyeli waqhubeka ethandaza kuNkulunkulu kathathu ngosuku. (Daniyeli 6:10, 11) Yingakho uJehova athi uthandeka kangaka! Ngaphandle komthandazo, ukuzindla kukaDaniyeli ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu kwamenza wakwazi ukuthola ukuthi iyini intando kaJehova. UDaniyeli waphikelela ethandaza futhi wayeyazi indlela efanele yokuya kuJehova ukuze imithandazo yakhe iphendulwe. Waqokomisa ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu. (Daniyeli 9:7, 14, 16) Futhi nakuba izitha zakhe zingatholanga phutha kuye, uDaniyeli wayazi ukuthi wayeyisoni phambi kukaNkulunkulu futhi wasivuma ngaphandle kokuthandabuza isono sakhe.—Daniyeli 6:4; Roma 3:23.

“AMASONTO ANGAMASHUMI AYISIKHOMBISA” OKUKHAWULA ISONO

13, 14. (a) Yikuphi ukwaziswa okubalulekile uGabriyeli akwembulela uDaniyeli? (b) Made kangakanani “amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa,” futhi sazi kanjani?

¹³ Yeka impendulo ayithola uDaniyeli owayekhonze ukuthandaza! UJehova akagcini nje ngokumqinisekisa ngokuthi amaJuda azobuyiselwa ezweni lawo kodwa umenza aqonde nento ebaluleke ngisho nakakhulu—ukuvela kukaMesiya owayebikezelwe. (Genesise 22:17, 18; Isaya 9:6, 7) UGabriyeli uthi kuDaniyeli: “Amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa anqunyelwe abantu bakho nomuzi wakho ongcwele ukuqeda iziphambeko, nokukhawula izono, nokwenza ukubuyisana ngobubi, nokungenisa ukulunga okuphakade, nokunamathelisa umbono nesiprofetho, nokugcoba indlu engcwelengcwele. Ngalokho yazi, uqonde ukuthi, kusukela ekuphumeni kwezwi lokubuyisa nokwakha iJerusalema kuze kufike ogcotshiweyo [“uMesiya uMholi,” NW], kuyakuba ngamasonto ayisikhombisa, lihlale lakhiwe, izitaladi zalo nogange lwalo, amasonto angamashumi ayisithupha nambili nasesikhathini sokuhlupheka.”—Daniyeli 9:24, 25.

¹⁴ Kwakuyizindaba ezinhle ngempela lezi! IJerusalema lalingeke lakhiwe kabusha futhi kubuyiselwe ukukhulekela ethempelini elisha nje kuphela, kodwa “uMesiya uMholi” wayeyovela ngesikhathi esithile esimisiwe. Kwakuzokwenzeka phakathi ‘namasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa.’ Njengoba uGabriyeli engazisho izinsuku, la masonto akuwona anezinsuku ezingu-7 lilinye, obekungaba izinsuku ezingu-490—okuwunyaka nje nezinyanga ezine. Ukwakhiwa kweJerusalema ‘nezitaladi zalo nogange lwalo’ okwakubikezelwe kwathatha isikhathi eside kakhulu kunalokho. La masonto angamasonto eminyaka. Izinguqulo eziningi zanamuhla zisikisela ukuthi isonto ngalinye liyiminyaka eyisikhombisa. Ngokwesibonelo, umbhalo waphansi kaDaniyeli 9:24 kuyi-Tanakh—The Holy Scriptures, enyatheliswa yi-Jewish Publication Society uhumusha ngokuthi “amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa eminyaka.” I-American Translation ifundeka kanje: “Amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa eminyaka anqunyelwe abantu bakho nomuzi wakho ongcwele.” Inguqulo kaMoffatt nekaRotherham zihumusha ngendlela efanayo.

15. La “masonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa” ahlukaniswa kanjani abe izinkathi ezintathu, futhi ayeyoqala nini?

¹⁵ Ngokwamazwi engelosi, la “masonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa” ayeyohlukaniswa abe yizinkathi ezintathu: (1) “amasonto ayisikhombisa,” (2) “amasonto angamashumi ayisithupha nambili,” (3) nesonto elilodwa. Lokhu kwenza iminyaka engu-49, iminyaka engu-434 neminyaka engu-7—okuyingqikithi yeminyaka engu-490. Ngokuthakazelisayo, i-Revised English Bible ifundeka kanje: “Iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa iphindwe kasikhombisa imiselwe abantu bakho nomuzi wenu ongcwele.” Ngemva kokuthunjwa nokuhlupheka kwawo eBabiloni iminyaka engu-70, amaJuda ayeyothola umusa okhethekile kuNkulunkulu iminyaka engu-490, noma iminyaka engu-70 iphindwe kasikhombisa. Yayiyoqalwa ukubalwa kusukela “ekuphumeni kwezwi lokubuyisa nokwakha iJerusalema.” Kwakuyokuba nini lokhu?

“AMASONTO ANGAMASHUMI AYISIKHOMBISA” AYAQALA

16. Njengoba kuboniswa umyalo wakhe, uKoresi wawabuyiselela yiphi injongo amaJuda ezweni lawo?

¹⁶ Zintathu izigigaba eziphawulekayo okufanele zicatshangelwe ngokuqondene nokuqala ‘kwamasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa.’ Esokuqala senzeka ngo-537 B.C.E. lapho uKoresi ekhipha umyalo wokubuyisela amaJuda ezweni lawo. Ufundeka kanje: “Usho kanje uKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya, uthi: ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu wezulu unginikile yonke imibuso yomhlaba; ungiyalile ukumakhela indlu eJerusalema lakwaJuda. Noma ngumuphi phakathi kwenu kubo bonke abantu bakhe, uNkulunkulu wakhe makabe naye, akhuphukele eJerusalema lakwaJuda, akhe indlu kaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, yena onguNkulunkulu waseJerusalema. Bonke abaseleyo, nakuziphi izindawo lapho begogobele khona, mabasizwe ngabantu bendawo yabo ngesiliva, nangegolide, nangempahla, nangezinkomo kanye nomnikelo wesihle wendlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema.’” (Ezra 1:2-4) Ngokusobala, injongo ekhethekile yalo myalo kwakuwukuba kwakhiwe kabusha ithempeli—“indlu kaJehova”—enxiweni lalo.

17. Incwadi eyanikezwa u-Ezra yayinikeza siphi isizathu sokuya kwakhe eJerusalema?

¹⁷ Isigigaba sesibili senzeka ngonyaka wesikhombisa wokubusa kwenkosi yasePheresiya u-Aritahishashita (u-Aritahishashita Longimanus, indodana kaXerxes I). Ngaleso sikhathi, u-Ezra umbhali wathatha uhambo lwezinyanga ezine esuka eBabiloni elibangise eJerusalema. Wayephethe incwadi ethile evela enkosini, kodwa yayingagunyazi ukwakhiwa kabusha kweJerusalema. Kunalokho, u-Ezra wayethunywe ukuba ‘ayohlobisa indlu kaJehova’ kuphela. Yingakho le ncwadi yayikhuluma ngegolide nesiliva, izitsha ezingcwele, iminikelo kakolweni, iwayini, amafutha nosawoti kokusekela ukukhulekela ethempelini, nokuthi labo abakhonza ethempelini bangatheliswa ntela.—Ezra 7:6-27.

18. Yiziphi izindaba ezakhathaza uNehemiya, futhi iNkosi u-Aritahishashita yazizwa kanjani lezi zindaba?

¹⁸ Isigigaba sesithathu senzeka ngemva kweminyaka engu-13, ngonyaka wama-20 wenkosi yasePheresiya u-Aritahishashita. Ngaleso sikhathi uNehemiya wayekhonza njengomphathizitsha “endlini yenkosi yaseShushani.” Insali eyayibuyile eBabiloni yayisilakhile kancane iJerusalema. Kodwa kwakungahambi kahle. UNehemiya wezwa ukuthi ‘ugange lwaseJerusalama lwalubhidliziwe namasango alo ashiswa ngomlilo.’ Kwamkhathaza kakhulu lokhu, futhi inhliziyo yakhe yadabuka. Ebuzwa ngokudabuka kwakhe, uNehemiya waphendula: “Mayime njalo inkosi; ubuso bami bungebiphe ngani, lapho umuzi, indawo yamathuna awobaba, uchithekile namasango awo eshiswé ngomlilo, na?”—Nehemiya 1:1-3; 2:1-3.

19. (a) Lapho iNkosi u-Aritahishashita imbuza, yini uNehemiya aqale wayenza? (b) UNehemiya wacelani, futhi wathini lapho evuma ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayenesandla kule ndaba?

¹⁹ Le ndaba kaNehemiya iyaqhubeka: “Yayisithi inkosi kimi: ‘Ukhala ngani?’ Ngase ngikhuleka kuNkulunkulu wezulu. Ngathi enkosini: ‘Uma kukuhle enkosini, uma inceku yakho ifumene umusa emehlweni akho, ungivumele ukuba ngiye kwaJuda emzini wamathuna awobaba ukuba ngiwuvuse.’” Lesi sicelo samjabulisa u-Aritahishashita, owasamukela nesicelo esiqhubekayo sikaNehemiya: “Uma kukuhle enkosini, manginikwe izincwadi kubabusi phesheya koMfula [i-Ewufrathe], ukuze bavume ukuba ngidlule ngize ngifike kwaJuda, kanye nencwadi ku-Asafa umlindihlathi lenkosi ukuba anginike imithi yemishayo yamasango enqaba ehlangene nethempeli, neyogange lomuzi, neyendlu engiyakungena kuyo.” UNehemiya wavuma ukuthi uJehova wayenesandla kukho konke lokhu, ethi: “Inkosi yanginika lokhu [izincwadi] ngokwesandla esihle sikaNkulunkulu wami esasiphezu kwami.”—Nehemiya 2:4-8.

20. (a) Laphuma nini izwi ‘lokubuyisa nokwakha iJerusalema’? (b) Aqala nini “amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa,” futhi aphela nini? (c) Yibuphi ubufakazi obubonisa ukunemba kwezinsuku zokuqala nokuphela ‘kwamasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa’?

²⁰ Nakuba imvume yakhishwa ngenyanga ka-Nisan, ngasekuqaleni konyaka wama-20 wokubusa kuka-Aritahishashita, ‘ukuphuma’ kwangempela “kwezwi lokubuyisa nokwakha iJerusalema” kwenzeka ezinyangeni ezithile kamuva. Kwenzeka ngesikhathi uNehemiya efika eJerusalema futhi eqala umsebenzi wakhe wokwakha. Uhambo luka-Ezra lwaluthathe izinyanga ezine, kodwa iShushani yayiqhele ngamakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-322 empumalanga yeBabiloni, ngakho yayikude ngisho nakakhulu neJerusalema. Khona-ke, cishe uNehemiya wafika eJerusalema ngasekupheleni konyaka wama-20 ka-Aritahishashita, noma ngo-455 B.C.E. Aqala ngaleso sikhathi-ke “amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa,” noma iminyaka engu-490. Ayeyophela ngasekupheleni kuka-36 C.E.—Bheka isihloko esithi “Kwaqala Nini Ukubusa Kuka-Aritahishashita?” ekhasini 197.

“UMESIYA UMHOLI” UYAVELA

21. (a) Yini eyayizokwenzeka phakathi ‘namasonto ayisikhombisa’ okuqala, naphezu kwaziphi izimo? (b) UMesiya kwakumelwe avele ngamuphi unyaka, futhi iVangeli likaLuka lithi kwenzekani ngaleso sikhathi?

²¹ Kwadlula iminyaka emingaki ngaphambi kokuba iJerusalema lakhiwe kabusha ngempela? Ukubuyiselwa komuzi kwakuyokwenziwa “esikhathini sokuhlupheka” ngenxa yezinkinga ezaziphakathi kwamaJuda ngokwawo nokuphikiswa okwakuvela kumaSamariya nakwabanye. Ngokobufakazi obutholakalayo, umsebenzi waqedwa ngokwezinga elalidingeka cishe ngo-406 B.C.E.—phakathi ‘namasonto ayisikhombisa,’ noma iminyaka engu-49. (Daniyeli 9:25) Kwakuzolandela inkathi yamasonto angu-62, noma iminyaka engu-434. Ngemva kwaleyo nkathi, kwakuzovela uMesiya okwase kuyisikhathi eside athenjiswa. Ukubala iminyaka engu-483 (49 + 434) kusukela ngo-455 B.C.E. kusiletha ku-29 C.E. Kwenzekani ngaleso sikhathi? Umlobi weVangeli uLuka uyasitshela: “Onyakeni weshumi nesihlanu wokubusa kukaTiberiyu Kesari, lapho uPontiyu Pilatu ayengumbusi waseJudiya, noHerode engumbusi wesifunda waseGalile, . . . kwafika isimemezelo sikaNkulunkulu kuJohane indodana kaZakariya ehlane. Ngakho wafika kulo lonke izwe elizungeze iJordani, eshumayela ngokubhapathizwa njengesibonakaliso sokuphenduka ngenjongo yokuthethelelwa kwezono.” Ngaleso sikhathi “abantu babelindele” uMesiya.—Luka 3:1-3, 15.

22. UJesu waba nini uMesiya owayebikezelwe futhi kanjani?

²² UJohane wayengeyena uMesiya owayethenjisiwe. Kodwa ngokuqondene nalokho akubona lapho kubhapathizwa uJesu waseNazaretha, ekwindla ka-29 C.E., uJohane wathi: “Ngabona umoya wehla njengejuba uphuma ezulwini, futhi wahlala phezu kwakhe. Ngisho nami bengingamazi, kodwa Yena kanye ongithume ukuba ngibhapathize emanzini wathi kimi, ‘Noma ubani oyobona umoya wehlela phezu kwakhe futhi uhlale, lona nguye obhapathiza emoyeni ongcwele.’ Futhi ngikubonile lokho, futhi ngifakazile ukuthi lona uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.” (Johane 1:32-34) Lapho ebhapathizwa, uJesu waba Ogcotshiweyo—uMesiya, noma uKristu. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, umfundi kaJohane u-Andreya wahlangana noJesu ogcotshiwe wabe esetshela uSimoni Petru: “Simtholile uMesiya.” (Johane 1:41) Ngakho, “uMesiya uMholi” wavela ngesikhathi okuyisona sona—ekupheleni kwamasonto angu-69!

IZIGIGABA ZESONTO LOKUGCINA

23. Kungani kwakudingeka ukuba “uMesiya uMholi” afe, futhi kwakuzokwenzeka nini lokhu?

²³ Kwakuzokwenzekani phakathi nesonto lama-70? UGabriyeli wathi le nkathi ‘yamasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa’ yayinqunyelwe “ukuqeda iziphambeko, nokukhawula izono, nokwenza ukubuyisana ngobubi, nokungenisa ukulunga okuphakade, nokunamathelisa umbono nesiprofetho, nokugcoba indlu engcwelengcwele.” Ukuze kwenzeke lokhu, “uMesiya uMholi” kwadingeka afe. Nini? UGabriyeli wathi: ‘Emva kwalawo masonto angamashumi ayisithupha nambili ogcotshiweyo uyonqunywa, angabi nalutho. Uyogcina isivumelwano sisebenza ngenxa yabaningi isonto elilodwa, imihlatshelo neminikelo ikhawuke phakathi kwesonto.’ (Daniyeli 9:26a, 27a) Lesi sikhathi esibucayi saba “phakathi kwesonto,” okusho ukuthi, maphakathi nesonto lokugcina leminyaka.

24, 25. (a) Njengoba kwakuprofethiwe, uKristu wafa nini, futhi ukufa nokuvuka kwakhe kwaqedani? (b) Ukufa kukaJesu kwenza ukuba kwenzekeni?

²⁴ Inkonzo yasobala kaJesu Kristu yaqala ngasekupheleni kuka-29 C.E. futhi yathatha iminyaka emithathu nesigamu. Njengoba kwakuprofethiwe, ekuqaleni kuka-33 C.E., uKristu ‘wanqunywa’ lapho efa esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa, enikela ngokuphila kwakhe kobuntu kube isihlengo sesintu. (Isaya 53:8; Mathewu 20:28) Isidingo semihlatshelo yezilwane neminikelo eyayidingwa uMthetho saphela lapho uJesu ovusiwe ethula kuNkulunkulu ezulwini inani lokuphila kwakhe kobuntu okwenziwe umhlatshelo. Nakuba abapristi abangamaJuda baqhubeka benza iminikelo kwaze kwabhujiswa ithempeli laseJerusalema ngo-70 C.E., imihlatshelo enjalo yayingasamukeleki kuNkulunkulu. Isikhundla sayo sase sithathwe umhlatshelo ongcono, owawungadingi ukulokhu uphindwa. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “[UKristu] wanikela umhlatshelo owodwa wezono ngokungapheliyo . . . Ngoba ngomnikelo owodwa womhlatshelo aye wenza ngawo labo abangcweliswayo baphelela ngokungapheliyo.”—Heberu 10:12, 14.

²⁵ Nakuba isono nokufa kwaqhubeka kuhlupha isintu, ukunqunywa kukaJesu ngokufa nokuvuselwa kwakhe ekuphileni kwasezulwini kwagcwalisa isiprofetho. ‘Kwaqeda iziphambeko, kwakhawula izono, kwenza ukubuyisana ngobubi kwangenisa nokulunga okuphakade.’ UNkulunkulu wayesesiqedile isivumelwano soMthetho, esasiye saveza futhi salahla amaJuda njengayizoni. (Roma 5:12, 19, 20; Galathiya 3:13, 19; Efesu 2:15; Kolose 2:13, 14) Manje izono zabenzi bobubi abaphendukayo zase zingasulwa, nezijeziso zabo zase zingasuswa. Ngomhlatshelo kaMesiya oyisihlawulelo, labo ababonisa ukholo babengase bakwazi ukubuyisana noNkulunkulu. Babengabheka phambili ekutholeni isipho sikaNkulunkulu ‘sokuphila okumi phakade ngoKristu Jesu.’—Roma 3:21-26; 6:22, 23; 1 Johane 2:1, 2.

26. (a) Nakuba isivumelwano soMthetho sase sisusiwe, yisiphi isivumelwano ‘esagcinwa sisebenza isonto elilodwa’? (b) Yini eyenzeka ekupheleni kwesonto lama-70?

²⁶ Wasisusa kanjalo-ke uJehova isivumelwano soMthetho ngokufa kukaKristu ngo-33 C.E. Kwakushiwo kanjani-ke pho ukuthi uMesiya “uyakugcina isivumelwano sisebenza ngenxa yabaningi isonto libe linye”? Ngoba wagcina isivumelwano sika-Abrahama sisebenza. Kwaze kwaphela isonto lama-70 uNkulunkulu elokhu enika inzalo ka-Abrahama engamaHeberu izibusiso zaleso sivumelwano. Kodwa ekupheleni “kwamasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa” eminyaka, ngo-36 C.E., umphostoli uPetru washumayeza indoda engumNtaliyane eyayizinikele, uKorneliyu, abendlu yakhe nabanye abantu beZizwe. Futhi kusukela ngalolo suku kuqhubeke, izindaba ezinhle zaqala ukumenyezelwa kubantu bezizwe.—IzEnzo 3:25, 26; 10:1-48; Galathiya 3:8, 9, 14.

27. Iyiphi “indlu engcwelengcwele” eyagcotshwa, futhi yagcotshwa kanjani?

²⁷ Lesi siprofetho sabikezela nangokugcotshwa ‘kwendlu engcwelengcwele.’ Lokhu akubhekiseli ekugcotshweni kweNgcwelengcwele, noma igumbi elingaphakathi lethempeli eJerusalema. Inkulumo ethi “indlu engcwelengcwele” lapha ibhekisela endlini kaNkulunkulu engcwele yasezulwini. Lapho, uJesu wethula inani lomhlatshelo wakhe wobuntu kuYise. Lowo mhlatshelo wagcoba, noma wahlukanisa, leyo ndawo yasezulwini engokomoya eyayifanekiselwa iNgcwelengcwele yetabernakele lasemhlabeni nethempeli lakamuva.—Heberu 9:11, 12.

ISIPROFETHO SIQINISWA UNKULUNKULU

28. Kwakusho ukuthini ‘ukunamathelisa umbono nesiprofetho’?

²⁸ Isiprofetho sikaMesiya esashiwo ingelosi uGabriyeli sakhuluma ‘nangokunamathelisa umbono nesiprofetho.’ Lokhu kwakusho ukuthi konke okwakubikezelwe ngoMesiya—konke akufeza ngomhlatshelo wakhe, ukuvuswa kwakhe nokuba kwakhe sezulwini, kanye nezinye izinto ezenzeka phakathi nesonto lama-70—kwakunamatheliswa ngophawu lokuvunyelwa kwaphezulu, kwakuyoba yiqiniso futhi kube nokwethenjelwa. Lo mbono wawuzovalwa, usebenze kuMesiya kuphela. Wawuyogcwaliseka ngaye futhi ugcwaliseke emsebenzini kaNkulunkulu ngaye. Incazelo efanele yalo mbono esingayithola ngeqondene noMesiya owabikezelwa kuphela. Ngeke sawuqonda ngaphandle kwakhe.

29. Yini eyayizokwenzeka eJerusalema elalakhiwe kabusha, futhi ngasiphi isizathu?

²⁹ UGabriyeli wayeprofethile ngaphambili ukuthi iJerusalema laliyokwakhiwa kabusha. Manje ubikezela ukubhujiswa kwalowo muzi owakhiwa kabusha nethempeli lawo, ethi: “Umuzi nendlu engcwele kuyakuchithwa ngabantu bombusi ozayo, ukuphela kwakho kube sesikhukhuleni, kube ngukulwa kuze kube sekugcineni; incithakalo inqunyiwe. . . . Kufike incithakalo ngephiko lesinengiso, kuze kuphele okunqunyiweyo, kuthululelwe phezu komchithi.” (Daniyeli 9:26b, 27b) Nakuba lokhu kuchithwa kwakuzokwenzeka ngemva ‘kwamasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa,’ kwakuzoba umphumela oqondile wezenzakalo zaphakathi ‘nesonto’ lokugcina, ngesikhathi amaJuda elahla uKristu futhi enza ukuba abulawe.—Mathewu 23:37, 38.

30. Njengoba umbhalo ogciniwe ubonisa, wagcwaliseka kanjani umyalo woMgcini-sikhathi Omkhulu?

³⁰ Imibhalo egciniwe ibonisa ukuthi ngo-66 C.E., amabutho amaRoma eholwa umbusi waseSiriya uCestius Gallus ahaqa iJerusalema. Naphezu kokuzabalaza kwamaJuda, amabutho amaRoma, ethwele amafulege awo ahlobene nokukhonza izithombe, angena emzini futhi aqala ukucekela phansi udonga lwethempeli enyakatho. Ukuma kwawo lapho kwawenza “isinengiso” esasingase senze incithakalo ephelele. (Mathewu 24:15, 16) Ngo-70 C.E., amaRoma, eholwa uJenene Titus abuya ‘njengesikhukhula’ awuchitha umuzi nethempeli lawo. Awavinjwanga yilutho ngoba lokhu kwakumenyezelwe—‘kunqunyiwe’—nguNkulunkulu. UMgcini-sikhathi Omkhulu, uJehova, wayesephinde walifeza izwi lakhe!

YINI OYIZUZILE?

• Lapho iminyaka engu-70 yokuchithwa kweJerusalema iya ekupheleni, yini uDaniyeli ayinxusa kuJehova?

• Ayemade kangakanani “amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa,” futhi aqala abuye aphela nini?

• “UMesiya uMholi” wavela nini, futhi ‘wanqunywa’ ngasiphi isikhathi esibucayi?

• Yisiphi isivumelwano ‘esagcinwa sisebenza ngenxa yabaningi isonto elilodwa’?

• Kwenzekani ngemva ‘kwamasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa’?

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe esisekhasini 197]

Kwaqala Nini Ukubusa Kuka-Aritahishashita?

IZAZI-MLANDO ziyaphikisana ngokuqondene nonyaka inkosi yasePheresiya u-Aritahishashita eyaqala ngawo ukubusa. Ezinye ziye zathi waba yinkosi ngonyaka ka-465 B.C.E. ngoba uyise, uXerxes, wayeqale ukubusa ngo-486 B.C.E., washona ngonyaka wama-21 wokubusa kwakhe. Nokho, kunobufakazi bokuthi u-Aritahishashita wahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi ngo-475 B.C.E. futhi waqala ukubusa ngo-474 B.C.E.

Imibhalo eqoshiwe nezinto eziqoshwe ngamatshe ezavubukulwa enhloko-dolobha yasePheresiya lasendulo iPersepolis zibonisa ukuthi uXerxes noyise uDariyu I babebusa kanye kanye. Uma lokhu kubusa kwahlanganisa iminyaka eyishumi futhi uXerxes abusa yedwa iminyaka engu-11 ngemva kokufa kukaDariyu ngo-486 B.C.E., unyaka wokuqala wokubusa kuka-Aritahishashita ngu-474 B.C.E.

Ubufakazi besibili buhilela uJenene Themistocles wase-Athens, owanqoba amabutho kaXerxes ngo-480 B.C.E. Kamuva amaGreki awabange esamthanda futhi wabekwa icala lokuvukela umbuso. UThemistocles wabaleka wayofuna isiphephelo ehlalankosi lasePheresiya, lapho amukelwa khona ngezandla ezimhlophe. Ngokwesazi-mlando esingumGreki uThucydides, lokhu kwenzeka ngesikhathi u-Aritahishashita “esanda kuhlala esihlalweni sobukhosi.” Isazi-mlando esingumGreki uDiodorus Siculus sithi uThemistocles wafa ngo-471 B.C.E. Njengoba uThemistocles acela isikhathi esingangonyaka sokuba afunde ulimi lwasePheresiya ngaphambi kokuba akhulume neNkosi u-Aritahishashita, kumelwe ukuba wafika e-Asia Minor ungakapheli unyaka ka-473 B.C.E. Leso sikhathi sisekelwa i-Chronicle of Eusebius kaJerome. Njengoba u-Aritahishashita “ayesanda kuhlala esihlalweni sobukhosi” ngesikhathi kufika uThemistocles e-Asia ngo-473 B.C.E., isazi esingumJalimane u-Ernst Hengstenberg, encwadini yaso i-Christology of the Old Testament sathi ukubusa kuka-Aritahishashita kwaqala ngo-474 B.C.E., njengoba kusho nezinye izincwadi. Sanezela: “Unyaka wamashumi amabili ka-Aritahishashita unyaka ka-455 ngaphambi kukaKristu.”

[Isithombe]

Umfanekiso wesingenhla kaThemistocles

[Umdwebo/Izithombe ekhasini 188, 189]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

“AMASONTO ANGAMASHUMI AYISIKHOMBISA”

amasonto ayisikhombisa amasonto angu-62 isonto elilodwa

iminyaka engu-49 iminyaka engu-434 iminyaka engu-7

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 180]

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 193]