Ukusindiswa ‘Esizukulwaneni Esibi’

“O sizukulwane esingenalukholo nesisontekile, kumelwe ngiqhubeke nginani futhi nginibekezelela kuze kube nini?”—LUKA 9:41.

 1. (a) Izikhathi zethu zezinhlekelele zibonisani? (b) Ithini imiBhalo ngabayosinda?

SIPHILA ezikhathini zezinhlekelele. Ukuzamazama komhlaba, izikhukhula, indlala, izifo, ukungabi namthetho, ukuqhunyiswa kwamabhomu, izimpi ezihlasimulisayo—lezi nezinye ziye zagubuzela isintu phakathi nekhulu lethu lama-20. Nokho, kunenhlekelele esongelayo enkulu kunazo zonke engekude. Iyini? “Usizi olukhulu olungakaze lwenzeke kusukela ekuqaleni kwezwe kuze kube manje, cha, futhi olungasayikuphinde lwenzeke.” (Mathewu 24:21) Nokho, abaningi bethu bangalindela ikusasa elijabulisayo! Ngani? Ngoba iZwi likaNkulunkulu uqobo lichaza “isixuku esikhulu, okungekho muntu owakwazi ukusibala, siphuma kuzo zonke izizwe nezizwana nabantu nezilimi . . . ‘Laba yilabo abaphuma osizini olukhulu . . . Ngeke besalamba noma bome . . . Futhi uNkulunkulu uyosula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni abo.’”—IsAmbulo 7:1, 9, 14-17.

 2. Amavesi okuqala kuMathewu 24, kuMarku 13, noLuka 21 aba nakuphi ukugcwaliseka kokuqala?

² Umbhalo ogciniwe ophefumulelwe kuMathewu 24:3-22, Marku 13:3-20, nakuLuka 21:7-24 wethula incazelo kaJesu engokwesiprofetho ‘yesiphelo sesimiso sezinto.’a Lesi siprofetho sagcwaliseka okokuqala esimisweni sezinto esonakele samaJuda sekhulu lokuqala leSikhathi sethu Esivamile, safinyelela umvuthwandaba ‘osizini olukhulu’ olwalungakaze lubonwe olwehlela amaJuda. Sonke isimiso esingokwenkolo nesezombangazwe samaJuda, esisikhungo saso kwakuyithempeli laseJerusalema, sabhujiswa, singasenakuphinde sivuselelwe.

 3. Kungani kuphuthuma ukuba silalele isiprofetho sikaJesu namuhla?

³ Manje ake sibheke izimo ezazikhona lapho lesi siprofetho sikaJesu sigcwaliseka okokuqala. Lokhu kuzosisiza sikuqonde kangcono ukugcwaliseka kwaso namuhla. Kuzosibonisa indlela okuphuthuma ngayo ukuthatha isinyathelo esiwujuqu manje ukuze sisinde osizini olukhulu kunazo zonke olusongela sonke isintu.—Roma 10:9-13; 15:4; 1 Korinte 10:11; 15:58.

“Ukuphela”—Nini?

 4, 5. (a) Kungani amaJuda esaba uNkulunkulu ekhulu lokuqala leminyaka C.E. ayenesithakazelo esiprofethweni sikaDaniyeli 9:24-27? (b) Lesi siprofetho sagcwaliseka kanjani?

⁴ Cishe ngonyaka ka-539 B.C.E., umprofethi kaNkulunkulu uDaniyeli wanikezwa umbono wezenzakalo ezaziyokwenzeka phakathi ‘nesonto’ lokugcina lenkathi ‘engamasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa’ eminyaka. (Daniyeli 9:24-27) ‘Lamasonto’ aqala ngo-455 B.C.E. lapho iNkosi yasePheresiya u-Aritahishashita iyala ukuba kwakhiwe kabusha umuzi waseJerusalema. “Isonto” lokugcina laqala lapho kubonakala uMesiya, uJesu Kristu, ngenkathi ebhapathizwa futhi egcotshwa ngo-29 C.E.b AmaJuda esaba uNkulunkulu ekhulu lokuqala C.E. ayesazi kahle lesi sici sesikhathi sesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli. Ngokwesibonelo, ngokuqondene nezixuku ezatheleka zizolalela intshumayelo kaJohane uMbhapathizi ngo-29 C.E., uLuka 3:15 uthi: “Abantu babelindele futhi bonke bezindla ezinhliziyweni zabo ngoJohane bethi: ‘Kungenzeka yini mhlawumbe ukuthi unguKristu?’”

⁵ “Isonto” lama-70 laliyoba iminyaka eyisikhombisa yomusa okhethekile owawuyoboniswa kumaJuda. Njengoba laqala ngo-29 C.E., lahlanganisa ubhapathizo nenkonzo kaJesu, ukufa kwakhe komhlatshelo ‘phakathi nesonto [“ingxenye yesonto,” NW]’ ngo-33 C.E., kanye nenye ‘ingxenye yesonto’ kuze kube ngu-36 C.E. Phakathi ‘nalelisonto,’ ithuba lokuba abantu babe abafundi bakaJesu abagcotshiwe lalivulekele amaJuda esaba uNkulunkulu kuphela namaproselithe angamaJuda. Khona-ke ngo-70 C.E., ngosuku olwalungaziwa kusengaphambili, amabutho amaRoma ngaphansi kukaTitus aqothula isimiso sobuJuda esihlubukayo.—Daniyeli 9:26, 27.

 6. “Isinengiso” sasithatha kanjani isinyathelo ngo-66 C.E., futhi amaKristu asabela kanjani?

⁶ Ngakho ubupristi bamaJuda, obabungcolise ithempeli laseJerusalema futhi baba ingxenye yozungu lokubulala iNdodana kaNkulunkulu uqobo, baqothulwa. Kwaphela nemibhalo egciniwe yezizwe nezizwana. Ngemva kwalokho, akukho mJuda owayengakusho ngokusemthethweni ukuthi unefa ebupristini noma ebukhosini. Nokho, ngokujabulisayo, amaJuda angokomoya agcotshiwe ayehlukanisiwe aba ubupristi bobukhosi ukuze ‘amemezele kabanzi ubuhle’ bukaJehova uNkulunkulu. (1 Petru 2:9) Lapho ibutho laseRoma livimbezela iJerusalema okokuqala futhi lize lifohla indawo yethempeli ngo-66 C.E., amaKristu abona lelo butho ‘liyisinengiso esibangela incithakalo, njengoba kwakhulunywa ngaso ngoDaniyeli umprofethi, esasimi endaweni engcwele.’ Elalela umyalo kaJesu ongokwesiprofetho, amaKristu eJerusalema naseJudiya abalekela ezindaweni ezinezintaba ukuze aphephe.—Mathewu 24:15, 16; Luka 21:20, 21.

 7, 8. Yisiphi “isibonakaliso” amaKristu asibona, kodwa yini ayengayazi?

⁷ Lawo maKristu angamaJuda akholekile abona ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli futhi azibonela ngawawo izimpi eziyinhlekelele, indlala, izifo eziwumshayabhuqe, ukuzamazama komhlaba, nokungabi namthetho uJesu ayekubikezele njengengxenye ‘yesibonakaliso sokuphela kwesimiso sezinto.’ (Mathewu 24:3) Kodwa ingabe uJesu wayebatshelile ukuthi uJehova wayeyosikhipha nini isahlulelo kuleso simiso esonakele? Cha. Lokho akuprofetha ngomvuthwandaba wokuba khona kwakhe ebukhosini esikhathini esizayo ngokuqinisekile kwasebenza ‘nasosizini olukhulu’ lwekhulu lokuqala: “Ngokuphathelene nalolosuku nalelohora akekho owaziyo, nazingelosi zasemazulwini naNdodana, kodwa uBaba kuphela.”—Mathewu 24:36.

⁸ Ngesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli, amaJuda ayengasibala isikhathi sokubonakala kukaJesu njengoMesiya. (Daniyeli 9:25) Kodwa awasinikezwanga isikhathi ‘sosizi olukhulu’ olwagcina lubhubhise isimiso sezinto esihlubukayo samaJuda. Kwaba ngemva kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema nethempeli lalo lapho aqaphela khona ukuthi kwakungu-70 C.E. Nokho, babewazi amazwi kaJesu angokwesiprofetho: “Lesisizukulwane asisoze sadlula zize zenzeke zonke lezizinto.” (Mathewu 24:34) Kubonakala sengathi indlela elithi “isizukulwane” elisetshenziswe ngayo lapha ihlukile kuleyo ekumShumayeli 1:4, okhuluma ngezizukulwane ezilandelanayo ezifikayo zidlule enkathini ethile yesikhathi.

“Lesisizukulwane”—Siyini?

 9. Izichazamazwi zilichaza kanjani igama lesiGreki elithi ge·ne·aʹ?

⁹ Lapho abaphostoli abane ababehlezi noJesu eNtabeni Yeminqumo belalele isiprofetho sakhe mayelana ‘nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto,’ baqonda ukuthi isho ukuthini inkulumo ethi “lesisizukulwane”? EmaVangelini igama elithi “isizukulwane” lihunyushwe lisuselwa egameni lesiGreki elithi ge·ne·aʹ, izichazamazwi zamanje ezilichaza ngalamazwi: “[Ngokwezwi nezwi] abantu abanokhokho oyedwa.” (I-Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament kaWalter Bauer) “Okuzelwe, umkhaya; . . . amalungu alandelanayo ohlu lozalo . . . noma ohlanga lwabantu . . . noma oquqaba lwabantu abaphila ngesikhathi esisodwa, Math. 24:34; Marku 13:30; Luka 1:48; 21:32; Fil. 2:15, futhi ikakhulukazi awohlanga lwamaJuda aphila ngesikhathi esisodwa.” (I-Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words kaW. E. Vine) “Okuzelwe, abantu begazi elilodwa, umkhaya; . . . uquqaba lwabantu abaphila ngesikhathi esisodwa: Math. xxiv. 34; Marku xiii. 30; Luka i. 48 . . . lisetshenziswa [ikakhulukazi] ohlangeni lwamaJuda aphila ngesikhathi esisodwa.”—I-Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament kaJ. H. Thayer.

10. (a) Iyiphi incazelo efanayo izazi ezimbili eziyinikezayo lapho zibhekisela kuMathewu 24:34? (b) Isichazamazwi sezimfundiso zenkolo nezinye izinguqulo zeBhayibheli ziyisekela kanjani lencazelo?

¹⁰ Ngakho uVine noThayer babhekisela kuMathewu 24:34 lapho bechaza elithi “lesisizukulwane” (he ge·ne·aʹ hauʹte) ngokuthi “uquqaba lwabantu abaphila ngesikhathi esisodwa.” I-Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (1964) iyayisekela lencazelo, ithi: “Ukusebenzisa kukaJesu elithi ‘isizukulwane’ kubonisa injongo yakhe ebanzi: uqondisa ukunakekela kubo bonke abantu futhi uyakuqaphela ukuba munye kwabo esonweni.” Ngempela “ukuba munye . . . esonweni” kwakubonakala esizweni samaJuda lapho uJesu esemhlabeni, njengoba kubonakala nasesimisweni sezwe namuhla.c

11. (a) Yimuphi umthombo ngokuyinhloko okufanele usiqondise ekunqumeni indlela okufanele lisebenze ngayo elithi he ge·ne·aʹ hauʹte? (b) Lomthombo walisebenzisa kanjani leli gama?

¹¹ Yiqiniso, amaKristu ahlola lendaba aqondisa ukucabanga kwawo ngokuyinhloko ngendlela ababhali bamaVangeli abaphefumulelwe abalisebenzisa ngayo igama lesiGreki elithi he ge·ne·aʹ hauʹte, noma “lesisizukulwane,” lapho bebika amazwi kaJesu. Ngokungaguquki lenkulumo yasetshenziswa ngendlela engabhekiseli ebuhleni. Ngakho, uJesu wabiza abaholi benkolo bamaJuda ngokuthi ‘izinyoka, inzalo yezinyoka ezinesihlungu’ futhi waqhubeka wathi “lesisizukulwane” sasiyothola ukwahlulelwa kwaseGehena. (Mathewu 23:33, 36) Nokho, ingabe lesi sahlulelo sasiyotholwa abefundisi abazenzisayo kuphela? Lutho neze. Kaningana, abafundi bakaJesu babemuzwe ekhuluma ‘ngalesisizukulwane,’ esebenzisa leli gama ngendlela efanayo ngomqondo obanzi nakakhulu. Yimuphi lowo?

“Lesisizukulwane Esibi”

12. Njengoba abafundi bakhe babelalele, uJesu wazihlobanisa kanjani ‘izixuku’ ‘nalesisizukulwane’?

¹² Ngo-31 C.E., phakathi nenkonzo kaJesu enkulu yaseGalile nangokushesha ngemva kwePhasika, abafundi bakhe bamuzwa ethi “ezixukwini”: “Lesisizukulwane ngizosifanisa nobani? Sifana nabantwana abancane abahlezi ezigcawini abamemeza abadlala nabo, bethi, ‘Sinibethelé umtshingo, kodwa anidansanga; sibangalasile, kodwa anizishayanga ngenxa yosizi.’ Ngokuhambelanayo, uJohane [uMbhapathizi] weza engadli futhi engaphuzi, nokho abantu bathi, ‘Unedemoni’; iNdodana yomuntu [uJesu] yona yafika idla futhi iphuza, noma kunjalo abantu bathi, ‘Bhekani! Umuntu ominzayo nojwayele ukuphuza iwayini, umngane wabathelisi nezoni.’” Yayingekho indlela yokujabulisa lezo “zixuku” ezazingaziphethe kahle!—Mathewu 11:7, 16-19.

13. Lapho enabafundi bakhe, obani uJesu abachaza futhi wabalahla ethi ‘bayilesisizukulwane esibi’?

¹³ Kamuva ngo-31 C.E., njengoba uJesu nabafundi bakhe beqala uhambo lwabo lwesibili lokushumayela eGalile, “abanye kubabhali nabaFarisi” bacela isibonakaliso kuJesu. Watshela bona ‘nezixuku’ ezazikhona: “Isizukulwane esibi nesiphingayo siyaqhubeka sifuna isibonakaliso, kodwa asikho isibonakaliso esizonikwa sona ngaphandle kwesibonakaliso sikaJona umprofethi. Ngoba njengoba nje uJona ayesesiswini senhlanzi enkulu izinsuku ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu, kanjalo neNdodana yomuntu izoba senhliziyweni yomhlaba izinsuku ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu. . . . Yileyondlela okuyoba ngayo ngalesisizukulwane esibi.” (Mathewu 12:38-46) Ngokusobala, “lesisizukulwane esibi” sasihlanganisa abaholi benkolo ‘nezixuku’ ezazingazange zisiqonde isibonakaliso esagcwaliseka lapho kufa futhi kuvuswa uJesu.d

14. Abafundi bakaJesu bamuzwa ebalahla ethini abaSadusi nabaFarisi?

¹⁴ Ngemva kwePhasika lika-32 C.E., njengoba uJesu nabafundi bakhe beza esifundeni saseGalile eMagadani, abaSadusi nabaFarisi baphinde bacela isibonakaliso kuJesu. Waphinde wathi kubo: “Isizukulwane esibi nesiphingayo siqhubeka sifuna isibonakaliso, kodwa asikho isibonakaliso esizonikwa sona ngaphandle kwesibonakaliso sikaJona.” (Mathewu 16:1-4) Labo bazenzisi benkolo babenecala ngempela njengabaholi phakathi ‘kwezixuku’ ezingakholekile uJesu ayezilahlile wathi ‘ziyilesisizukulwane esibi.’

15. Ngaphambi nje kokuguqulwa isimo nangemva nje kwako, uJesu nabafundi bakhe baba nakuphi ukungqubuzana ‘nalesisizukulwane’?

¹⁵ Ngasekupheleni kwenkonzo yakhe yaseGalile, uJesu wabiza isixuku nabafundi bakhe wathi: “Noma ubani oba namahloni ngami nangamazwi ami kulesisizukulwane esiphingayo nesinesono, neNdodana yomuntu iyoba namahloni ngaye.” (Marku 8:34, 38) Ngakho amaJuda amaningi ayengaphenduki angaleso sikhathi ngokusobala ayakha “lesisizukulwane esiphingayo nesinesono.” Ezinsukwini ezithile kamuva, ngemva kokuguqulwa kukaJesu isimo, uJesu nabafundi bakhe “beza ngasesixukwini,” umuntu othile wamcela ukuba aphulukise indodana yakhe. UJesu waphawula: “O sizukulwane esingenalukholo nesisontekile, kumelwe ngiqhubeke nginani kuze kube nini? Kumelwe nginibekezelele kuze kube nini?”—Mathewu 17:14-17; Luka 9:37-41.

16. (a) Yikuphi ukulahla “izixuku” uJesu akuphinda eJudiya? (b) “Lesisizukulwane” senza liphi icala elibi kunawo wonke?

¹⁶ Cishe kwakuseJudiya, ngemva koMkhosi Wamadokodo ngo-32 C.E., “lapho izixuku zibuthana ndawonye” ngakuJesu, lapho aphinda khona amazwi akhe okuzilahla, ethi: “Lesisizukulwane siyisizukulwane esibi; sifuna isibonakaliso. Kodwa asikho isibonakaliso esiyonikwa sona ngaphandle kwesibonakaliso sikaJona.” (Luka 11:29) Ekugcineni, lapho abaholi benkolo beletha uJesu ukuba aquliswe icala, uPilatu wathi ufuna ukumkhulula. Umbhalo ogciniwe uthi: “Abapristi abakhulu namadoda amadala bathonya izixuku ukuba zicele uBaraba, kodwa uJesu abhujiswe. . . . UPilatu wathi kuzo: ‘Khona-ke, ngenzeni ngoJesu okuthiwa uKristu?’ Zonke zathi: ‘Makabethelwe!’ Wathi: ‘Ngasizathu sini, iyiphi into embi ayenzile?’ Noma kunjalo zaqhubeka zikhamuluka kakhulu nangokwengeziwe zithi: ‘Makabethelwe!’” Leso “sizukulwane esibi” sasifuna ukubona uJesu efile!—Mathewu 27:20-25.

17. Abanye ‘kulesisizukulwane esigwegwile’ basabela kanjani ekushumayeleni kukaPetru ngePentekoste?

¹⁷ Ngaleyo ndlela ‘isizukulwane esingenalukholo nesisontekile,’ njengoba sishoshozelwa abaholi baso benkolo, saba nengxenye eyinhloko ekwenzeni ukuba iNkosi uJesu Kristu ibulawe. Ezinsukwini ezingu-50 kamuva, ngePentekoste ngo-33 C.E., abafundi bamukela umoya ongcwele futhi baqala ukukhuluma ngezilimi ezihlukene. Lapho luzwa umsindo, ‘uquqaba lwabuthana,’ futhi umphostoli uPetru walubiza ngokuthi “madoda aseJudiya nani nonke enakhileyo eJerusalema,” wayesethi: “Lomuntu [uJesu] . . . nambophela esigxotsheni ngesandla sabantu abangenamthetho futhi nambulala.” Ezinye zalezo zilaleli zasabela kanjani? ‘Zahlabeka enhliziyweni.’ UPetru wabe esezinxusa ukuba ziphenduke. “Wanikeza ubufakazi obuphelele futhi waqhubeka ezikhuthaza, ethi: ‘Sindiswani kulesisizukulwane esigwegwile.’” Besabela, abangaba izinkulungwane ezintathu “bamukela izwi lakhe ngenhliziyo yonke [futhi] babhapathizwa.”—IzEnzo 2:6, 14, 23, 37, 40, 41.

“Lesisizukulwane” Siyachazwa

18. Ukusebenzisa kukaJesu inkulumo ethi “lesisizukulwane” ngokungaguquki kubhekiselaphi?

¹⁸ Yisiphi-ke “isizukulwane” uJesu abhekisela kuso kaningi kangaka phambi kwabafundi bakhe? Bawaqonda kanjani lamazwi akhe: “Lesisizukulwane asisoze sadlula zize zenzeke zonke lezizinto”? Ngokuqinisekile, uJesu wayengashintshi endleleni ayevame ukulisebenzisa ngayo leli gama elithi “lesisizukulwane,” lelo alisebenzisa ngokungaguquki oquqabeni lwesikhathi sakhe ‘nabaqondisi balo abayizimpumputhe’ ndawonye ababakha isizwe samaJuda. (Mathewu 15:14) “Lesisizukulwane” sabhekana nazo zonke izingcindezi ezabikezelwa uJesu sase siyadlula ‘ngosizi olukhulu’ olungenakuqhathaniswa olwehlela iJerusalema.—Mathewu 24:21, 34.

19. Ladlula nini futhi kanjani “izulu nomhlaba” wesimiso sobuJuda?

¹⁹ Ekhulwini lokuqala, uJehova wayehlulela amaJuda. Lawo aphenduka, abonisa ukholo elungiselelweni likaJehova lesihe ngoKristu, asindiswa kulolo “sizi olukhulu.” Njengoba uJesu ayeshilo, zonke izinto ezaziprofethiwe zenzeka, “izulu nomhlaba” eliyisimiso sezinto samaJuda—isizwe sonke, nabaholi baso benkolo nomphakathi omubi wabantu—kwadlula. UJehova wayekhiphe isahlulelo!—Mathewu 24:35; qhathanisa neyesi-2 Petru 3:7.

20. Yisiphi isiyalo esifike ngesikhathi esisebenza kuwo wonke amaKristu ngokuphuthumayo?

²⁰ Lawo maJuda ayengawashayanga indiva amazwi kaJesu esiprofetho aqaphela ukuthi ukusindiswa kwawo kwakungaxhomekile ekuzameni ukubala ubude besikhathi ‘sesizukulwane’ noma ezinye ‘izikhathi noma izinkathi’ ezimisiwe, kodwa kwakuxhomeke ekuhlaleni ehlukile esizukulwaneni esibi sesikhathi sawo nasekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu ngentshiseko. Nakuba amazwi kaJesu okugcina alesi siprofetho esebenza ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu osukwini lwethu, namaKristu angamaJuda ekhulu lokuqala kwakudingeka alalele isiyalo: “Khona-ke, hlalani niphapheme, ngaso sonke isikhathi ninxusa ukuba niphumelele ekuphunyukeni kuzo zonke lezizinto ezimiselwe ukuba zenzeke, nasekumeni phambi kweNdodana yomuntu.”—Luka 21:32-36; IzEnzo 1:6-8.

21. Yini eyokwenzeka ngokungazelelwe esingayilindela maduze nje?

²¹ Namuhla, “usuku olukhulu lukaJehova . . . luseduze, lushesha kakhulu.” (Zefaniya 1:14-18; Isaya 13:9, 13) Ngokungazelele, ‘ngosuku nangehora’ likaJehova elinqunywe kusengaphambili, ulaka lwakhe luyodedelwa phezu kwabavelele enkolweni, kwezombangazwe, nakwezentengiselwano, kanye nabantu abangalawuleki abakha lesi “sizukulwane esibi nesiphingayo” sangaleso sikhathi. (Mathewu 12:39; 24:36; IsAmbulo 7:1-3, 9, 14) Ungasinda kanjani “osizini olukhulu”? Isihloko sethu esilandelayo sizophendula futhi sisitshele ngethemba elihle kakhulu lesikhathi esizayo.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

Ubungaphendula Kanjani?

◻ Sifundani ekugcwalisekeni kukaDaniyeli 9:24-27?

◻ Izichazamazwi zamanje zilichaza kanjani elithi “lesisizukulwane” njengoba lisetshenziswe eBhayibhelini?

◻ UJesu walisebenzisa kanjani ngokungaguquki igama elithi “isizukulwane”?

◻ UMathewu 24:34, 35 wagcwaliseka kanjani ekhulwini lokuqala?

[Isithombe ekhasini 12]

UJesu wafanisa “lesisizukulwane” nezixuku zezingane ezingalawuleki

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

UJehova kuphela owalazi kusengaphambili ihora lokukhipha isahlulelo esimisweni esibi sobuJuda