‘Siyakuba Yini Isibonakaliso Sokuba-Khona Kwakho?’
“Lokhu kuyakuba-nini, nesibonakaliso [sokuba-khona] kwakho nesokuphela kwezwe siyakuba-yini na?”—MATHEWU 24:3.
1, 2. Yini ebonisa ukuthi abantu banesithakazelo esikhathini esizayo?
ABANTU abaningi banesithakazelo esikhathini esizayo. Ingabe nawe unaso? Encwadini yakhe ethi Future Shock, uProfesa Alvin Toffler waphawula “ukwanda okungalindelekile kwezinhlangano ezizinikele ekuhloleni isikhathi esizayo.” Wenezela: ‘Siye sabona ukwakhiwa kwezinhlangano ezithambekele ekuhloleni isikhathi esizayo; ukuvela kwamaphephabhuku abikezela isikhathi esizayo eNgilandi, eFrance, e-Italy, eJalimane nase-United States; ukwanda kwezifundo zokubikezela zaseyunivesithi.’ Toffler waphetha: “Yiqiniso, akekho ongase ‘azi’ isikhathi esizayo ngomqondo ophelele.”
2 Incwadi ethi Signs of Things to Come ithi: “Ukubhula ngokufunda intende yesandla, ukubhula ngengilazi, ukufunda izinkanyezi, ukubhula ngamakhadi, ne-I Ching konke kuyizindlela eziyinkimbinkimbi ngandlela-thile ezisinikeza umbono walokho isikhathi sethu esizayo esingase sisiphathele kona.” Kodwa kunokuba siphendukele ezindleleni zabantu, kufanele sibheke emthonjeni oqinisekisiwe—uJehova.
3. Kungani kufanelekile ukubheka kuNkulunkulu ukuze sithole ulwazi ngesikhathi esizayo?
3 UNkulunkulu weqiniso wathi: “Njengokulinganisa kwami kuyakuba-njalo, nanjengokunquma kwami kuyakuma kanjalo.” (Isaya 14:24, 27; 42:9) Yebo, uJehova ubelokhu ekwazi ukweluleka isintu ngokuzokwenzeka, ngokuvamile enza kanjalo ngabakhulumeli abangabantu. Omunye walabaprofethi wabhala: ‘UJehova akenzi-lutho, engayambulanga imfihlakalo yakhe ezincekwini zakhe abaprofethi.’—Amose 3:7, 8; 2 Petru 1:20, 21.
4, 5. (a) Kungani uJesu engaba usizo ngokuphathelene nesikhathi esizayo? (b) Yimuphi umbuzo okabili owabuzwa abafundi bakhe?
4 UJesu Kristu wayewumprofethi kaNkulunkulu ovelele. (Heberu 1:1, 2) Ake sigxile kwesinye seziprofetho zikaJesu eziyisihluthulelo esibikezela izinto ezenzeka phakathi kwethu manje. Lesisiprofetho sisenza futhi siqonde lokho okuzokwenzeka ngokushesha njengoba isimiso esibi samanje siphela futhi uNkulunkulu eletha umhlaba oyipharadesi esikhundleni saso.
5 UJesu wazibonakalisa ukuthi ungumprofethi. (Marku 6:4; Luka 13:33; 24:19; Johane 4:19; 6:14; 9:17) Ngakho, lapho behlezi eNtabeni yemiNqumo bebuka iJerusalema, kuyaqondakala ukuthi kungani abaphostoli bakhe babengambuza ngesikhathi esizayo: “Lokhu kuyakuba-nini, nesibonakaliso sokuza kwakho nesokuphela kwezwe siyakuba-yini na?”—Mathewu 24:3; Marku 13:4.
6. UMathewu 24, uMarku 13, noLuka 21 bahlobene kanjani; futhi imuphi umbuzo okufanele usithakazelise ngokujulile?
6 Uzothola umbuzo wabo nempendulo kaJesu kuMathewu isahluko 24, uMarku isahluko 13, noLuka isahluko 21.a Ezicini eziningi lokhu kulandisa kuyavumelana, kodwa akufani. Ngokwesibonelo, uLuka kuphela okhuluma ‘ngobici lwezifo izindawo ngezindawo.’ (Luka 21:10, 11; Mathewu 24:7; Marku 13:8) Ngokunengqondo, kufanele sibuze, Ingabe uJesu wayebikezela izenzakalo zangesikhathi sokuphila kwezilaleli zakhe kuphela, noma ingabe wahlanganisa nesikhathi sethu nalokho isikhathi esizayo esisiphathele kona?
Abaphostoli Babefuna Ukwazi
7. Yini abaphostoli abayibuza ngokukhethekile, kodwa impendulo kaJesu yayibanzi kangakanani?
7 Ezinsukwini ezimbalwa ngaphambi kokuba abulawe, uJesu wamemezela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelilahlile iJerusalema, inhloko-dolobha yamaJuda. Lelidolobha kanye nethempeli lalo elihle kwakuzobhujiswa. Khona-ke abanye babaphostoli bacela ‘isibonakaliso sokuba khona kukaJesu nesokuphela kwesimiso sezinto.’ (Mathewu 23:37–24:3, NW) Ngokungangabazeki babecabanga ngokuyinhloko ngesimiso sobuJuda neJerusalema, ngoba babengaliqondi kahle izinga izinto ezingaphambili ezaziyokwenzeka ngalo. Kodwa lapho ebaphendula uJesu wabheka ngalé kokwenzeka ngalesosikhathi kuhlanganise no-70 C.E. lapho amaRoma ebhubhisa iJerusalema.—Luka 19:11; IzEnzo 1:6, 7.
8. Yiziphi ezinye zezenzakalo uJesu azibikezela?
8 Njengoba ungase ufunde ekulandiseni kwawo womathathu lamaVangeli, uJesu wakhuluma ngesizwe sivukela isizwe nombuso uvukela umbuso, indlala, ukuzamazama komhlaba, ukubonakala kwezinto ezesabekayo, nezibonakaliso ezulwini. Eminyakeni ephakathi kokunikeza kukaJesu lesisibonakaliso (33 C.E.) nokuchithwa kweJerusalema (66-70 C.E.), kwakuyovela abaprofethi bamanga noKristu bamanga. AmaJuda ayeyoshushisa amaKristu, ayeshumayela isigijimi sikaJesu.
9. Sagcwaliseka kanjani isiprofetho sikaJesu ekhulwini lokuqala C.E.?
9 Lezizici zesibonakaliso zenzeka ngempela, njengoba isazi-mlando uFlavius Josephus siqinisekisa. Sibhala ukuthi ngaphambi kokuba amaRoma ahlasele, oMesiya bamanga bashoshozela ukuhlubuka. Kwakunokuzamazama komhlaba okwesabekayo eJudiya nakwezinye izindawo. Kwagqashuka izimpi ezingxenyeni eziningi zoMbuso WamaRoma. Ingabe yayikhona indlala enkulu? Yebo, kunjalo. (Qhathanisa nezEnzo 11:27-30.) Kuthiwani ngomsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso? Ngo-60 noma ngo-61 C.E., lapho kubhalwa incwadi yabaseKolose, ‘ithemba lalezozindaba ezinhle’ zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu lase lizwakale kabanzi e-Afrika, e-Asia, naseYurophu.b—Kolose 1:23, qhathanisa ne-NW.
‘KHONA-KE’ Ukuphela Kuyofika
10. Kungani kufanele siphawule igama lesiGreki elithi toʹte, futhi libaluleke ngani?
10 Kwezinye izici uJesu wethula izenzakalo njengezenzeka ngokulandelana. Wathi: “Lelivangeli lombuso liyakushunyayelwa . . . , [khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika, NW].” AmaBhayibheli esiNgisi ngokuvamile asebenzisa igama elithi “khona-ke” ngomqondo olula wokuthi “ngakho-ke” noma “kodwa.” (Marku 4:15, 17; 13:23) Nokho, kuMathewu 24:14, elithi “khona-ke” lisekelwe esandisweni sesiGreki esithi toʹte.c Izazi zesiGreki zichaza ukuthi elithi toʹte ‘liyisandiso sokukhomba inkathi’ esisetshenziselwa “ukwethula lokho okulandelayo esikhathini” noma “ukwethula isenzakalo esilandelayo.” Ngakho uJesu wabikezela ukuthi kwakuyoba nokushunyayelwa koMbuso, khona-ke (‘ngemva kwalokho’ noma ‘ngokulandelayo’) “ukuphela” kwakuyofika. Kuphi ukuphela?
11. UJesu wagxila kanjani ezenzakalweni ezihlobene ngokuqondile nokubhujiswa kweJerusalema?
11 Okunye ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaJesu kungatholakala ezenzakalweni ezaholela ekupheleni kwesimiso sobuJuda. Izimpi, ukuzamazama komhlaba, indlala, nokunye uJesu akubikezela kwenzeka enkathini engaphezu kweminyaka engamashumi amathathu. Nokho, kusukela kuMathewu 24:15, Marku 13:14, noLuka 21:20, sifunda ngezenzakalo ezazihlobene ngokuqondile nokubhujiswa okwakusondela, lapho ukuphela kwakuseduze kakhulu.—Phawula umugqa onamachashaza angawodwa eshadini.
12. Amabutho amaRoma ayehileleke kanjani ekugcwalisekeni kukaMathewu 24:15?
12 Esabela ekuvukeleni kwamaJuda ngo-66 C.E., amaRoma ngaphansi kukaCestius Gallus amasha eyohlasela iJerusalema, azungeza lomuzi amaJuda ayewubheka njengongcwele. (Mathewu 5:35) Naphezu kokuzivikela kwamaJuda, amaRoma angena ngendlov’ iyangena kulomuzi. Ngaleyondlela aqala ‘ukuma endaweni engcwele,’ njengoba nje uJesu ayebikezele kuMathewu 24:15 noMarku 13:14. Khona-ke kwenzeka isimanga. Nakuba ayesewuzungezile umuzi, amaRoma ahoxa ngokungalindelekile. AmaKristu akuqaphela ngokushesha ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaJesu, futhi lokhu kuhoxa kwawenza akwazi ukuphuma eJudiya abalekele ezintabeni ngaphesheya kweJordani. Umlando uthi enza kanjalo.
13. Kungani amaKristu akwazi ukulalela isixwayiso sikaJesu sokubaleka?
13 Kodwa uma amaRoma ahoxa ekuvimbezeleni iJerusalema, kungani kwakudingeka ukuba abantu babaleke? Amazwi kaJesu abonisa ukuthi okwakwenzekile kwakuqinisekisa ukuthi ‘ukuchithwa kweJerusalema kwakuseduze.’ (Luka 21:20) Yebo, ukulenza incithakalo. Wabikezela ‘usizi olwalungazange lube-khona kwasekuqaleni kwezwe nolwalungasayikuphinde lube khona.’ Eminyakeni engaba mithathu nengxenye kamuva, ngo-70 C.E., ngempela iJerusalema labhekana ‘nosizi olukhulu’ oluvela emabuthweni amaRoma ngaphansi kukaJenene uTitus. (Mathewu 24:21; Marku 13:19) Pho, kungani uJesu ayengachaza lokhu njengosizi olukhulu kunanoma yiluphi olwake lwaba khona noma olungakaze lube khona?
14. Kungani singase sithi okwenzeka eJerusalema ngo-70 C.E. ‘kwakuwusizi olukhulu’ olwalungazange lube khona ngaphambili nolungakaze luphinde lwenzeke?
14 IJerusalema lenziwa incithakalo abaseBabiloni ngo-607 B.C.E., futhi lomuzi uye wabona izimpi ezisabekayo ekhulwini lethu leminyaka. Nakuba kunjalo, okwenzeka ngo-70 C.E. kwakuwusizi olukhulu ngendlela eyingqayizivele. Emkhankasweni wezempi wezinyanga ezingaba zinhlanu, amabutho kaTitus anqoba amaJuda. Abulala angaba ngu-1 100 000 futhi athumba alinganiselwa ku-100 000. Ngaphezu kwalokho, amaRoma abhubhisa iJerusalema. Lokhu kwabonisa ukuthi isimiso sobuJuda sokukhulekela okwakuvunyelwe ngaphambili, okwakugxile ethempelini sase siphele phakade. (Heberu 1:2) Yebo, izenzakalo zango-70 C.E. zazingase zibhekwe ngokufanelekile ‘njengosizi olukhulu olungazange lube-khona [kulowomuzi, isizwe, nesimiso] kwasekuqaleni kwezwe nolungasayikuba-khona.’—Mathewu 24:21.d
Njengoba Kwakuprofethiwe, Okuningi Kwakusazolandela
15. (a) Yiziphi izenzakalo uJesu abikezela ukuthi zaziyokwenzeka ngemva kosizi eJerusalema? (b) NgokukaMathewu 24:23-28, kumelwe siphethe ngokuthini ngokugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaJesu?
15 Nokho, uJesu akazange alinganisele ukubikezela kwakhe osizini olukhulu lwekhulu lokuqala. IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi kuningi okwakusazolandela lolosizi, njengoba kuboniswa ukusetshenziswa kwelithi toʹte, noma “khona-ke,” kuMathewu 24:23 nakuMarku 13:21. Yini eyayizokwenzeka enkathini yangemva kuka-70 C.E.? Ngemva kwalolosizi olwaluyokwehlela isimiso sobuJuda, kwakuyovela oKristu nabaprofethi bamanga abaningi. (Qhathanisa uMarku 13:6 no- 13:21-23.) Umlando uqinisekisa ukuthi abantu abanjalo baye bavela emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka kusukela ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema ngo-70 C.E., nakuba bengazange badukise abantu abanombono okhaliphile ngokomoya nababebheke ‘ekubeni khona’ kukaKristu. (Mathewu 24:27, 28) Nokho, lezizenzakalo zangemva kosizi olukhulu lwango-70 C.E. zinikeza ubufakazi obubodwa bokuthi uJesu wayebheke ngalé kwalolosizi, olwalumane luwukugcwaliseka kokuqala nje.
16. ULuka 21:24 wenezela siphi isici esiprofethweni sikaJesu, futhi lokhu kubaluleke ngani?
16 Uma sithatha uMathewu 24:15-28 noMarku 13:14-23 sibaqhathanisa noLuka 21:20-24, sithola ubufakazi besibili bokuthi ukubikezela kukaJesu kwakudlulela ngalé kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema. Khumbula ukuthi uLuka kuphela owayekhulumé ngobhadane lwezifo. Ngokufanayo uyena kuphela owaphetha lengxenye ngamazwi kaJesu: “IJerusalema liyakunyathelwa phansi ngabezizwe, kuze kugcwaliseke izikhathi zabezizwe.”e (Luka 21:24) AbaseBabiloni basusa inkosi yokugcina yamaJuda ngo-607 B.C.E., futhi ngemva kwalokho, iJerusalema, elalimelela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, lanyathelwa. (2 AmaKhosi 25:1-26; 1 IziKronike 29:23; Hezekeli 21:25-27) KuLuka 21:24, uJesu wabonisa ukuthi lesisimo sasiyoqhubekela esikhathini esizayo kuze kufike isikhathi sokuba uNkulunkulu amise uMbuso kabusha.
17. Yibuphi ubufakazi besithathu esinabo bokuthi isiprofetho sikaJesu sasiyofinyelela esikhathini esikude esizayo?
17 Nabu ubufakazi besithathu bokuthi uJesu wayebhekisela nasesikhathini esizayo esikude: NgokwemiBhalo, uMesiya kwakumelwe afe bese evuswa, ngemva kwalokho wayeyohlala ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu kuze kube yilapho uYise emthuma engonqobayo. (IHubo 110:1, 2) UJesu wabhekisela ekuhlaleni kwakhe ngakwesokunene sikaYise. (Marku 14:62) Umphostoli uPawulu waqinisekisa ukuthi uJesu ovusiwe wayengakwesokunene sikaJehova elindele isikhathi sokuba yiNkosi noMahluleli kaNkulunkulu.—Roma 8:34; Kolose 3:1; Heberu 10:12, 13.
18, 19. IsAmbulo 6:2-8 sihlobene kanjani nesiprofetho esivumelana naso esisemaVangelini?
18 Ukuze sithole ubufakazi besine nobokugcina bokuthi isiprofetho sikaJesu ngesiphelo sesimiso sezinto sisebenza esikhathini esingalé kwekhulu lokuqala, singabheka isAmbulo isahluko 6. Lapho ebhala emashumini eminyaka ngemva kuka-70 C.E., umphostoli uJohane wachaza umbono oshukumisayo wabagibeli bamahhashi abanentshiseko. (IsAmbulo 6:2-8) Lombono ongokwesiprofetho ‘wangosuku lweNkosi’—usuku lokuba-khona kwayo—uveza ikhulu lethu lama-20 leminyaka njengesikhathi sempi ephawulekayo (IsAmbulo 6ivesi 4), ukuntuleka kokudla okusakazeke yonke indawo (IsAmbulo 6amavesi 5 no-6), ‘nenhlupho ebhubhisayo’ (IsAmbulo 6ivesi 8). Ngokusobala, lokhu kuvumelana nalokho uJesu akusho emaVangelini futhi kubonisa ukuthi isiprofetho sakhe sinokugcwaliseka okukhulu ‘kulolusuku lweNkosi.’—IsAmbulo 1:10.
19 Abantu abakhanyiselwe bayaqaphela ukuthi isibonakaliso esiyinhlanganisela esabikezelwa kuMathewu 24:7-14 nakusAmbulo 6:2-8 siye sabonakala kusukela ekugqashukeni kokuqala kwempi yezwe ngo-1914. OFakazi BakaJehova baye bamemezela emhlabeni wonke ukuthi manje isiprofetho sikaJesu sigcwaliseka okwesibili futhi kakhulu, njengoba kufakazelwa izimpi ezinonya, ukuzamazama komhlaba okubhubhisayo, indlala esabekayo, nezifo ezidlangile. Ngokuphathelene nezifo, i-U.S.News & World Report (ka-July 27, 1992) yathi: “Ubhadane lwengculaza . . . lubulala izigidi zezisulu futhi ngokushesha lungase lube uhlupho olubizayo noluyinhlekelele emlandweni. Isifo okuthiwa yi-Black Death sabulala imiphefumulo ehluphekayo engaba yizigidi ezingu-25 ngekhulu le-14 leminyaka. Kodwa ngonyaka ka-2000, abantu abayizigidi ezingu-30 kuya kwezingu-110 bayobe bene-HIV, igciwane elibangela ingculaza, kusukela kwabacishe babe izigidi ezingu-12 namuhla. Njengoba lingekho ikhambi, bonke babhekene nokufa okuqinisekile.”
20. Ukugcwaliseka kokuqala kukaMathewu 24:4-22 kwakuyohlanganisani, kodwa yikuphi okunye ukugcwaliseka okusobala?
20 Khona-ke, yini okufanele siphethe ngayo ngempendulo kaJesu embuzweni wabaphostoli? Isiprofetho sakhe sazibikezela ngokunembile izinto ezaziyoholela nezaziyohlanganisa ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema, futhi sakhuluma ngezinye izinto ezaziyokwenzeka ngemva kuka-70 C.E. Kodwa eziningi zalezi zaziyoba nokugcwaliseka kwesibili nokukhulu esikhathini esizayo, okwakuyoholela osizini olukhulu olwaluyophelisa isimiso sezinto samanje esibi. Lokhu kusho ukuthi ukubikezela kukaJesu kuMathewu 24:4-22, kanye nokulandisa okuvumelanayo kuMarku nakuLuka, kwagcwaliseka kusukela ngo-33 C.E. kuqhubeke kuze kube sosizini olukhulu lwango-70 C.E. Nokho, lawomavesi afanayo ayeyogcwaliseka okwesibili, okwakuyohlanganisa nosizi olukhulu esikhathini esizayo. Lokugcwaliseka okukhulu kwenzeka esikhathini sethu; singakubona nsuku zonke.f
Siholelaphi?
21, 22. Sibutholaphi ubufakazi obungokwesiprofetho bokuthi kwakusazokwenzeka izenzakalo ezengeziwe?
21 UJesu akazange aphethe isiprofetho sakhe ngokukhuluma ngabaprofethi bamanga abenza izibonakaliso ezidukisayo phakathi nenkathi ende ngaphambi ‘kokugcwaliseka kwezikhathi ezimisiwe zabezizwe.’ (Luka 21:24; Mathewu 24:23-26; Marku 13:21-23) Waqhubeka ekhuluma nangezinye izinto ezimangalisayo ezaziyokwenzeka, izinto ezibonwa emhlabeni wonke. Lezi zaziyohlanganiswa nokuza kweNdodana yomuntu ngamandla nenkazimulo. UMarku 13:24-27 uyisibonelo sesiprofetho sakhe esiqhubekayo:
22 “Kodwa ngalezozinsuku emva kwalolosizi ilanga liyakufiphazwa, nenyanga ayiyikukhanya, nezinkanyezi ziyakuwa ezulwini, namandla asezulwini ayakuzanyazanyiswa. Khona-ke bayakubona iNdodana yomuntu iza emafwini, inamandla amakhulu nenkazimulo. Lapho iyakuthuma izingelosi, iqoqe abakhethiweyo bayo emimoyeni yomine, kusukela emkhawulweni womhlaba kuze kube-semkhawulweni wezulu.”
23. Kungani singalindela ukugcwaliseka kukaMathewu 24:29-31 esikhathini eside ngemva kwekhulu lokuqala C.E.?
23 INdodana yomuntu, uJesu Kristu ovusiwe, ayizange ize ngaleyondlela emangalisayo ngemva kokuphela okubhubhisayo kwesimiso sobuJuda ngo-70 C.E. Ngokuqinisekile zonke izizwe zomhlaba azizange ziyiqaphele, njengoba uMathewu 24:30 ephawula, futhi izingelosi zasezulwini azizange ziqoqe ngalesosikhathi wonke amaKristu agcotshiwe emhlabeni wonke. Khona-ke yayiyogcwaliseka nini lengxenye eyengeziwe yesiprofetho esisabekayo sikaJesu? Ingabe iyagcwaliseka kulokho okwenzekayo phakathi kwethu manje, noma kunalokho, inikeza ukuqonda kwaphezulu ezintweni esingazilindela esikhathini esiseduze esizayo? Ngokuqinisekile kufanele sifune ukwazi, ngoba uLuka uloba isiyalo sikaJesu: “Nxa kuqala ukuvela lokho, lulamani, niphakamise amakhanda enu, ngokuba kusondele ukukhululwa kwenu.”—Luka 21:28.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Izingxenye zalezizahluko zingatholakala eshadini emakhasini 14 no-15; imigqa enamachashaza ihlukanisa izingxenye ezihambisanayo.
b Ukuze uthole izikhombo ezingokomlando zalezizenzakalo, bheka INqabayokulinda ka-July 15, 1970, amakhasi 319-21.
c Elithi toʹte livela izikhathi ezingaphezu kuka-80 kuMathewu (izikhathi ezingu-9 kusahluko 24) nezikhathi ezingu-15 encwadini kaLuka. UMarku wasebenzisa elithi toʹte izikhathi eziyisithupha kuphela, kodwa ezine zazo zazihilela ‘isibonakaliso.’
d Umlobi waseBrithani uMatthew Henry waphawula: “Ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema amaKaledi kwakwesabeka kakhulu, kodwa lokhu kwakukwedlula. Kwakuwukubhujiswa okwakusongela wonke . . . amaJuda.”
e Ekulandiseni kukaLuka abaningi babona ushintsho ekugcizeleleni ngemva kukaLuka 21:24. UDkt. Leon Morris uyaphawula: “UJesu uyaqhubeka ekhuluma ngezikhathi zabeZizwe. . . . Ngokombono wezazi eziningi ukunakekela manje kubhekiselwa ekuzeni kweNdodana yomuntu.” UProfesa R. Ginns uyabhala: “Ukuza KweNdodana YoMuntu—(Mt 24:29-31; Mk 13:24-27). Ukukhuluma ‘ngezikhathi zabeZizwe’ kunikeza isethulo salesihloko; umbono [kaLuka] manje udluliselwa esikhathini esizayo ngalé kokuchithwa kweJerusalema.”
f UProfesa Walter L. Liefeld uyabhala: “Kungenzeka ngempela ukucabanga ukuthi ukubikezela kukaJesu kwakuhlanganisa imikhakha emibili: (1) izenzakalo zango-A.D. 70 ezihilela ithempeli (2) nalezo ezaziyokwenzeka esikhathini esikude esizayo, ezichazwe ngamagama angokwesambulo.” Incwadi yokuhlaziya eyabhalwa uJ. R. Dummelow ithi: “Eziningi zezinkinga ezingathi sína kakhulu zalentshumayelo enkulu ziyanyamalala lapho siqaphela ukuthi iNkosi yethu yayingabhekiseli esenzakalweni esisodwa kuyo kodwa kwezimbili, nokuthi esokuqala sasiwumfuziselo wesesibili. . . . Ikakhulukazi [uLuka] 21:24, okhuluma ‘ngezikhathi zabeZizwe,’ . . . ubeka isikhawu esihlala njalo phakathi kokuwa kweJerusalema nokuphela kwezwe.”
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Impendulo kaJesu embuzweni okuMathewu 24:3 yayinakuphi ukugcwaliseka okwaholela ku-70 C.E.?
◻ Ukusetshenziswa kwegama elithi toʹte kusisiza kanjani ukuba siqonde isiprofetho sikaJesu?
◻ Kungamuphi umqondo ekhulwini lokuqala ‘kwakunosizi olukhulu’ olwalungakaze lube khona ngaphambili?
◻ Yiziphi izici ezimbili zesiprofetho sikaJesu ezisihilelayo namuhla uLuka abhekisela kuzo?
◻ Yibuphi ubufakazi obubhekisela ekugcwalisekeni kwesibili nokukhulu kwesiprofetho esikuMathewu 24:4-22?
[Ishadi ekhasini 14, 15]
4 “UJesu . . . wathi kubo: Qaphelani ningadukiswa-muntu. 5 Ngokuba kuyakuza abaningi ngegama lami, bathi: Mina nginguKristu, badukise abaningi. 6 Niyakuzwa izimpi namahemuhemu ezimpi. Bhekani ningethuki, ngokuba kumelwe ukuba kwenzeke, kepha ukuphela koba kungakafiki.
7 “Ngokuba isizwe siyakuvukela isizwe, nombuso uvukele umbuso, kube-khona indlala nokuzamazama komhlaba izindawo ngezindawo. 8 Kepha konke lokho kungukuqala kwemihelo.
9 “[Khona-ke, NW] bayakunikhaphela osizini, banibulale; niyakuzondwa yizizwe zonke ngenxa yegama lami. 10 Khona-ke abaningi bayakukhubeka, bakhaphelane, bazondane. 11 Kuyakuvela abaprofethi bamanga abaningi, badukise abaningi. 12 Ngenxa yokwanda kokubi kuzakuphola uthando lwabaningi. 13 Kodwa okhuthazelayo kuze kube-sekupheleni nguyena oyakusindiswa. 14 Lelivangeli lombuso liyakushunyayelwa ezweni lonke, kube-ngubufakazi ezizweni zonke, [khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika, NW].
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15 “Ngakho-ke nxa nibona amanyala encithakalo ashiwo nguDaniyeli umprofethi emi endaweni engcwele—ofundayo makaqaphele 16 [khona-ke, NW] abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni, 17 ophezu kwendlu angehli ukuyothatha okusendlini yakhe, 18 osensimini angabuyeli emuva ukuyothatha ingubo yakhe. 19 Kepha maye kwabakhulelweyo nabancelisayo ngalezozinsuku! 20 Khulekani ukuba ukubaleka kwenu kungabi-sebusika nangesabatha. 21 Ngokuba ngalesosikhathi kuyakuba-khona usizi olukhulu olungazange lube-khona kwasekuqaleni kwezwe kuze kube-manje nolungasayikuba-khona. 22 Uma lezozinsuku zingafinyezwanga, bekungesindiswe-muntu; kepha ngenxa yabakhethiweyo lezozinsuku ziyakufinyezwa.
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23 “[Khona-ke, NW] uma umuntu ethi kini: Bhekani, nangu uKristu, noma: Nanguya, ningakholwa. 24 Ngokuba kuyakuvela okristu bamanga nabaprofethi bamanga, baveze izibonakaliso ezinkulu nezimangaliso, ukuze kudukiswe nabakhethiweyo, uma kungenzeka. 25 Bhekani, senginitshelile ngaphambili. 26 Ngakho-ke uma bethi kini: Bhekani, usehlane, ningaphumi; noma bethi: Bhekani, usendlini, ningakholwa; 27 ngokuba njengonyazi luphuma empumalanga, lubonakale kuze kube sentshonalanga, kuyakuba-njalo ukufika kweNdodana yomuntu. 28 Nomaphi lapho kukhona isidumbu, kulapho amanqe eyakubuthana khona.
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29 “Kepha masinyane emva kosizi lwalezozinsuku ilanga liyakufiphazwa, nenyanga ayiyikukhanya, nezinkanyezi ziyakuwa ezulwini, namandla ezulu ayakuzanyazanyiswa. 30 Khona kuyakubonakala ezulwini isibonakaliso seNdodana yomuntu, bese-zikhala izizwe zonke zomhlaba, zibone iNdodana yomuntu iza emafwini ezulu, inamandla nenkazimulo enkulu. 31 Iyakuthuma izingelosi zayo ngokukhala okukhulu kwecilongo, ziqoqe abakhethiweyo bayo emimoyeni yomine, kusukela emkhawulweni omunye wezulu kuze kube-komunye.”
5 “Khona uJesu waqala ukukhuluma kubo, ethi: Qaphelani ningadukiswa-muntu. 6 Kuyakuza abaningi ngegama lami, bathi: Nginguye, badukise abaningi. 7 Nxa nizwa izimpi namahemuhemu ezimpi, ningethuki; kumelwe ukuba kwenzeke, kepha ukuphela koba kungakafiki.
8 “Ngokuba isizwe siyakuvukela isizwe, nombuso uvukele umbuso; kuyakuba-khona ukuzamazama komhlaba izindawo ngezindawo, kube-khona indlala; lokhu kungukuqala kwemihelo.
9 “Kepha ziqapheleni nina. Bayakunikhaphela emiphakathini; niyakushaywa emasinagogeni; niyakumiswa phambi kwababusi namakhosi ngenxa yami, kube-ngubufakazi kubo. 10 Kepha ivangeli limelwe ukushunyayelwa kuqala ezizweni zonke. 11 Uma beniqhuba, benikhaphela, ningakhathaleli ngaphambili eniyakukukhuluma, kodwa lokho eniyakukunikwa ngalesosikhathi, kukhulumeni; ngokuba kakunina enikhulumayo kodwa nguMoya oNgcwele. 12 Khona umuntu uyakukhaphela umfowabo ekufeni noyise umntanakhe, yebo, abantwana bayakuvukela abazali babo, bababulale. 13 Niyakuzondwa yibo bonke ngenxa yegama lami, kodwa okhuthazelayo kuze kube-sekupheleni nguyena oyakusindiswa.
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14 “Kepha nxa nibona amanyala encithakalo emi lapho kungafanele khona—ofundayo makaqaphele [khona-ke, NW] abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni, 15 ophezu kwendlu angehli, angangeni ukuyothatha utho endlini yakhe, 16 osensimini angabuyeli emuva ukuyothatha ingubo yakhe. 17 Kepha maye kwabakhulelweyo nabancelisayo ngalezozinsuku! 18 Khulekani ukuba kungabi-sebusika. 19 Ngokuba lezozinsuku ziyakuba-nosizi olungazange lube-khona olunjalo kwasekuqaleni kokudalwa akudalayo uNkulunkulu kuze kube-manje, nolungasayikuba-khona. 20 Uma iNkosi ibingazifinyezi lezozinsuku, bekungesindiswe-muntu; kepha ngenxa yabakhethiweyo eyabakhetha yazifinyeza lezozinsuku.
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21 “Khona-ke uma umuntu ethi kini: Bhekani, nangu uKristu, noma: Bhekani, nanguya, ningakholwa. 22 Ngokuba kuyakuvela okristu bamanga nabaprofethi bamanga, benze izibonakaliso nezimangaliso, ukuze badukise abakhethiweyo, uma kungenzeka. 23 Kepha qaphelani nina; senginitshelé konke ngaphambili.
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24 “Kodwa ngalezozinsuku emva kwalolosizi ilanga liyakufiphazwa, nenyanga ayiyikukhanya, 25 nezinkanyezi ziyakuwa ezulwini, namandla asezulwini ayakuzanyazanyiswa. 26 Khona-ke bayakubona iNdodana yomuntu iza emafwini, inamandla amakhulu nenkazimulo. 27 [Khona-ke, NW] iyakuthuma izingelosi, iqoqe abakhethiweyo bayo emimoyeni yomine, kusukela emkhawulweni womhlaba kuze kube-semkhawulweni wezulu.”
8 “Wathi: Qaphelani ningadukiswa, ngokuba kuyakuza abaningi ngegama lami, bathi: Nginguye; bathi futhi: Isikhathi sesisondele; maningabalandeli. 9 Nxa nizwa ngezimpi neziyaluyalu, ningethuki, ngokuba kumelwe ukuba kwenzeke lokho kuqala, kepha ukuphela akukabikho masinyane.
10 “[Khona-ke, NW] wathi kubo: Isizwe siyakuvukela isizwe, nombuso uvukele umbuso; 11 kuyakuba-khona ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba nobici nendlala izindawo ngezindawo, kube-khona izinto ezesabekayo nezibonakaliso ezinkulu ezivela ezulwini.
12 “Kepha ngaphambi kwakho konke lokho bayakunibamba, banizingele, banikhaphele emasinagogeni nasematilongweni, baniyise phambi kwamakhosi nababusi ngenxa yegama lami. 13 Kuyakunehlela kube-ngubufakazi. 14 Ngakho kugcineni ezinhliziyweni zenu ukuba ningazindli ngaphambili eniyakuziphendulela ngakho; 15 ngokuba mina ngiyakuninika umlomo nokuhlakanipha abangemelane nakho, bakuphike, bonke abayimpi kini. 16 Yebo, niyakukhashelwa nangabazali, nabafowenu, nezihlobo, nabangane; abanye benu bayakubulawa yibo. 17 Niyakuzondwa yibo bonke ngenxa yegama lami. 18 Akuyikulahleka nalunwele lwekhanda lenu. 19 Ngokukhuthazela kwenu niyakuzuza imiphefumulo yenu.
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20 “Kepha nxa nibona iJerusalema lihaqiwe yizimpi, yazini ukuthi sekusondele ukuchithwa kwalo. 21 [Khona-ke, NW] abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni, abaphakathi kwalo baphume, abasemaphandleni bangangeni kulo. 22 Ngokuba lezi ziyizinsuku zempindiselo ukuba kugcwaliseke konke okulotshiweyo. 23 Maye kwabakhulelweyo nabancelisayo ngalezozinsuku! Ngokuba kuyakuba-khona ukuhlupheka okukhulu emhlabeni nentukuthelo phezu kwalesisizwe. 24 Bayakuwa bedliwa yinkemba, bathunjelwe ezizweni zonke;
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iJerusalema liyakunyathelwa phansi ngabezizwe, kuze kugcwaliseke izikhathi zabezizwe.
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25 “Kuyakuba-khona izibonakaliso elangeni nasenyangeni nasezinkanyezini; nasemhlabeni usizi luyakwehlela izizwe, zixakeke ngokuduma kolwandle namaza, 26 abantu baphele amandla ngokwesaba nangokubheka okuvelela umhlaba; ngokuba amandla ezulu ayakunyakaziswa. 27 [Khona-ke, NW] bayakuyibona iNdodana yomuntu iza efwini, inamandla nenkazimulo enkulu. 28 Kepha nxa kuqala ukuvela lokho, lulamani, niphakamise amakhanda enu, ngokuba kusondele ukukhululwa kwenu.”
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Usizi lwango-70 C.E. lwalulukhulu ukwedlula noma yiluphi olunye iJerusalema nesimiso sobuJuda esake sabhekana nalo