Ubani Ongaqonda “Isibonakaliso” Ngokufanele?
“Bazenzisi, niyakwazi ukuchachisa ukuma komhlaba nokwezulu; kepha yini ukuba ningachachisi lesisikhathi na?”—LUKA 12:56.
1, 2. Yini izitha zikaJesu ezazingayibona ngokubonakala kwesibhakabhaka, kodwa yini ezahluleka ukuyiqonda?
AMATILOSI ahlakaniphile ayakwazi ukuchaza ukubonakala kwesibhakabhaka, futhi alandela izimpawu zaso. Njengoba isisho sesiNgisi esaziwayo sikubeka: “Isibhakabhaka esibomvu ebusuku, amatilosi ayajabula,/Isibhakabhaka esibomvu ekuseni, amatilosi ayaxwaya.”
2 INkosi uJesu Kristu yaveza iphuzu elifanayo ngokukhanya ngokwengeziwe lapho ibhekene nezitha zayo. Ngokuqondene naleyompikiswano umlobi weVangeli uLuka uyabhala: “Wayesethi nakuzo izixuku: Nxa nibona ifu likhuphuka entshonalanga, masinyane nithi: Iyeza imvula, kube-njalo. Futhi nxa kuphephetha iningizimu, nithi: Lizakubalela, kube-njalo. Bazenzisi, niyakwazi ukuchachisa ukuma komhlaba nokwezulu; kepha yini ukuba ningachachisi lesisikhathi na?”—Luka 12:54-56.
3. Isiphi “isibonakaliso” esifakazela ukuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya izitha zakhe ezazingakwazi ukusifihla?
3 Lezozitha eziqhoshayo zazikwazi ukubikezela isimo sezulu, kodwa zazizenzisa kakhulu futhi zingenalwazi olungokomoya lokuqonda izinto ezibaluleke kakhulu. UJesu wenza izibonakaliso ezihlukahlukene ezasiza abantu abanhliziyo ziqotho ukuba bamkholelwe. (Johane 2:23) Nokho, “isibonakaliso” sokufa kwakhe ngoSuku lwePhasika lika-33 C.E. nokuvuka kwakhe ngosuku lwesithathu safakazela ngokukhethekile ukuthi wayenguMesiya, noma uKristu. (Mathewu 12:38-41; Luka 11:30) Ngokulindelekile, izitha zikaJesu zazama ukufihla ‘lesosibonakaliso.’ (Mathewu 27:62–28:20; IzEnzo 4:1-4) Kodwa ngaphambi kokuba enyukele ezulwini amaJuda angaba ama-500 ambona ukuthi uvukile. (1 Korinte 15:3-6) Ngokufanayo, namuhla ‘kunesibonakaliso’ esingenakufihlwa. Ukusiqonda ngokufanele kuyindaba yokufa nokuphila. Kodwa siyini ‘lesosibonakaliso’? Futhi ubani ongasiqonda ngokufanele?
“Isibonakaliso” Sosuku Lwethu
4. Namuhla, isiphi “isibonakaliso” esibonakalayo, futhi ziyini ezinye izici zaso? (Mathewu 24:3)
4 Abafundi bakaJesu babembuzile: “Nesibonakaliso sokuza kwakho nesokuphela kwezwe siyakuba-yini na?” Ekuphenduleni, uKristu wabikezela izimpi ezingenakulinganiswa, ukuswelakala kokudla, ukuzamazama komhlaba, nezinye izici ‘zesibonakaliso’ ‘sokuba khona’ kwakhe okungabonakali emandleni oMbuso. Isici esiyinhloko siwumsebenzi ohlanganisa umhlaba wonke wokushumayela ngoMbuso manje owenziwa emazweni angama-203 ngofakazi bakaJehova abangaphezu kwezi-2 840 000. Izincwadi zeWatch Tower ziye zakhomba kaningi kulobufakazi nakobunye manje obugcwalisa “isibonakaliso” ‘sokuba-khona’ kukaJesu.—Mathewu, izahluko 24, 25; Marku isahluko 13; Luka isahluko 21.
5. Kungani uJesu ayengeqisi uma ebiza amaJuda ekhulu lokuqala ngokuthi “isizukulwane esibi nesiphingayo”?
5 Alinakuphikwa iqiniso lokuthi kusukela ekugqashukeni kweMpi Yezwe I ngo-1914 ubufakazi bokugcwaliseka ‘kwesibonakaliso’ buye banda. Ikuphi ukubaluleka lokhu okumelwe kube nakho kithi? Nokho, asifuni ukuba njengamaJuda ayephila emakhulwini ayi-19 adlule ayengababikezeli abahle bezulu, kodwa angabunakanga ubufakazi obusobala obabuphambi kwawo futhi angafuna ukufinyelela isiphetho obabuholela kuso. Ngaphambili kakhulu kwalokho, uNkulunkulu wayenikeze uMose amandla okwenza izibonakaliso ezintathu zokufakazela ukuthi ugunyazwe ngokwaphezulu kumaIsrayeli ayehlupheka. (Eksodusi 4:1-31) Kodwa naphezu kwezibonakaliso eziningi kunezintathu, amaJuda alesosizukulwane sekhulu lokuqala ayengazimisele ukumamukela njengoMesiya Lowo omkhulu kunoMose. (Johane 4:54; Heberu 2:2-4) Ngakho-ke uJesu wayengeqisi uma ebabiza ngokuthi “isizukulwane esibi nesiphingayo.”—Mathewu 12:39.
6. Abantu abafundile bathini manje ngezimo zezwe?
6 Abantu besizukulwane sekhulu lama-20 abangafuni noma abangakholelwa ekuzeni kwesibili kukaJesu Kristu abasiqondi ngokufanele “isibonakaliso” sokuphela kwalesimiso. Kodwa izimo zanamuhla azithokozisi neze, njengoba kuboniswa izibonelo ezilandelayo:
“UNobhala-Jikelele weZizwe Ezihlangene uJavier-Perez le Cuellar uye waphawula ukuthi izwe lifinyelele esikhathini esibucayi kakhulu ekuguqukeni kwezindaba zezizwe zonke futhi ukushisekela ukuhleleka kwezizwe zonke okunokulunga, ukuthula nokuqina kubonakala kubuthakathaka. . . . ‘Ukuncipha kokwethembana kwezizwe kubangela ukungezwani nokulwa,’ kusho uNobhala-Jikelele weUN.”—Indian Express, October 22, 1983.
“Iningi lethu belithi eminyakeni eminingi impi yenyukliye iyobulala izigidi eziningi zabantu abangenacala futhi iyokwenza izingxenye ezinkulu zomhlaba zingabi namuntu . . . Iqembu lososayensi abahlonishwayo liye lafinyelela isiphetho esesabisa ngisho nangaphezulu—sokuthi impi yenyukliye, noma ngisho ukuhlaselana okuncane kwemibuso emikhulu ngezikhali zenyukliye, kungaqalisa inhlekelele yomhlaba wonke esimweni esingaholela ekufeni kwezinkulungwane zezigidi kunezigidi nje futhi ngokunokwenzeka engaqeda ukuphila kwesintu emhlabeni. Kwenziwa ukuhlola kweminyaka emibili koMhlangano Wemiphumela Yempi Yenyukliye Ehlala Isikhathi Eside Ezintweni Eziphilayo Emhlabeni Wonke. Iziphetho zawo zaqinisekiswa ososayensi abangaphezu kwe-100 . . . uCarl Sagan . . . wakhulumela umphumela wempi yenyukliye ngamazwi ashaqisayo: ‘Ukuphela kwesintu kuyokwenzeka ngempela.’”—The Express (Easton, Pa.), November 3, 1983.
7. Abathanda ukuphila ezweni elingcono kumelwe babheke kuphi ngesiqinisekiso?
7 Unjalo umbono ongani-kithemba wabahlaziyi abathile abanomthwalo wemfanelo negunya. Kumnyama kakhulu ngoba akukho ndlela abangayikhomba yokuphuma enhlekeleleni abayibonayo. Ngokuqinisekile, abathanda ukuphila ezweni elingcono bafuna ukwaziswa okunika ithemba. Ngokujabulisayo, kunendlela yokuphuma enhlekeleleni yomhlaba eseduze kakhulu, ngoba bakhona abasinda enhlekeleleni yembulunga yonke eyayisondela ngokufanayo. Phela, ukuba babengekho abasinda kuZamcolo wosuku lukaNowa, umhlaba ngabe manje awugcwele abantu abakhileyo kuwo abangaphezu kwezi-4 000 000 000 abakhe kuwo! Incwadi eyodwa kuphela—iBhayibheli eliNgcwele—esinikeza umlando oqondile ngendlela abantu abayisishiyagalombili abasinda ngayo, kanye nezinhlobo zezilwane, ezasinda kuleyombubhiso yembulunga yonke.
8. Ngokuphambene nabanye, yini abafundi bakaJesu okwakumelwe bayenze uma lesimiso sezinto samanje sesizosuswa?
8 Njengoba lencwadi efanayo enokwethenjwa isinikeza incazelo kaJesu ngezimo eziyokwehlela umhlaba lapho isimiso sezinto samanje esiwohlokayo sisuswa, ingabe akumelwe sizame ukufunda ‘lesisibonakaliso’ ngokufanele? Eminyakeni engamashumi amathathu nesikhombisa ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngamabutho amaRoma ngo-70 C.E., uJesu wanikeza uhide olude lwezici ‘zesibonakaliso’ esihlangene ezaziyokwandulela inhlekelele yembulunga yonke eyafanekiselwa uZamcolo. Futhi phakathi kwezinye izinto, wathi: “Kuyakuba-khona izibonakaliso elangeni nasenyangeni nasezinkanyezini; nasemhlabeni usizi luyakwehlela izizwe, zixakeke ngokuduma kolwandle namaza, abantu baphele amandla ngokwesaba nangokubheka okuvelela umhlaba; ngokuba amandla ezulu ayakunyakaziswa. Khona-ke bayakuyibona iNdodana yomuntu iza efwini, inamandla nenkazimulo enkulu. Kepha nxa kuqala ukuvela lokho, lulamani, niphakamise amakhanda enu, ngokuba kusondele ukukhululwa kwenu.”—Luka 21:25-28.
9. Kusukela ngo-1895 kuya ku-1931, umsebenzi walomagazini waboniswa kanjani esembozweni sawo sangaphambili?
9 Ingxenye yalesosiprofetho yavela esembozweni sikamagazini iWatch Tower kaJanuary 1, 1895, kuya kwekaOctober 1, 1931. Ngenhla kwaleyongcaphuno yeBhayibheli kwakunenqaba yokulinda ekhipha imisebe yokukhanya, ngesikhathi esifanayo ulwandle olunolaka lushaya isisekelo sedwala okumi kulo inqaba. Kanjalo lomagazini wabonisa umsebenzi wawo esizukulwaneni, esimalungu aso asaphila namanje futhi afunda wona kanye lomagazini.
10. Singakugwema kanjani ukukhathazwa ukwesaba okuphethe abaholi babantu namuhla?
10 Namuhla, abaholi bezwe, abaxakekile ngokwesaba, bazenzela incazelo yabo ngezici ‘zesibonakaliso’ esihlangene. Kodwa ongcono kakhulu ekusichazeleni uJesu Kristu, futhi uma siqaphela ukubaluleka ‘kwesibonakaliso’ akubonisa, asiyikukhathazwa ukwesaba okuvame kubaholi besintu abaxakwe ukonakala kwalelizwe lamanje. Kunalokho, siyojabula ngoba ukukhululwa kwethu kulesimiso esonakele kuseduze.
Isikhathi Esiphawuliwe Sokubonakala ‘Kwesibonakaliso’
11. UJesu wakubonisa kanjani ukuthi izenzakalo zomhlaba ezibonisa ukuphela zaziyokwenzeka ngesikhathi esifanele?
11 Izenzakalo zomhlaba zenzeka ngesikhathi sazo. Kanjani? Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba uJesu anikeze isiprofetho esilotshwe kuLuka 21:25-28, wabikezela ngokubhujiswa kwesibili kweJerusalema. Njengoba ayeshilo, kwenzeka ngo-70 C.E. Ngokuqondene namaJuda asindayo, uJesu wathi: “Bayakuwa bedliwa inkemba, bathunjelwe ezizweni zonke; iJerusalema liyakunyathelwa phansi ngabezizwe, kuze kugcwaliseke izikhathi zabezizwe.” Lezozizwe kwakuyilabo abangewona amaJuda, noma beZizwe. Ngakho-ke, isikhathi sokunyathelwa ngokuvamile sibizwa ngokuthi “izikhathi zabezizwe.” (Luka 21:24) Zaphela nini? Nokho, kuhileleke okungaphezu kwalokho okwenzeka eJerusalema lasemhlabeni. Ngakho unyaka irepublic yakwaIsrayeli eyaqala ngawo ukuphatha umuzi obiyelwe waseJerusalema, noma iqiniso lokuthi liyinhloko-dolobha yesizwe sakwaIsrayeli sanamuhla esizibusayo, akuzona izici okunganqunywa ngazo. Okubalulekile isikhathi esihlelwe uNkulunkulu!
12. Izikhathi zabeZizwe zaqala nini, zathatha isikhathi esingakanani, futhi zaphela nini?
12 AbeZizwe abangamaRoma baqala ukunyathela phansi iJerusalema ngo-63 B.C.E. Kodwa ngaphambi kwabo abeZizwe abangamaGreki, amaPheresiya, nabaseBabiloni babuye bawunyathelela phansi ‘lowomuzi weNkosi enkulu’ uJehova. (Mathewu 5:34, 35) AbaseBabiloni bawubhubhisa kanye nethempeli lawo ngo-607 B.C.E. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi kuye phambili, lokho okumelele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu kwaqala ukunyathelelwa phansi ngabezizwe, futhi iZikhathi ZabeZizwe zaqala ngempela. Lezozikhathi zabeZizwe zazizoba yisikhombisa ngenani, ngasinye sivumelana nonyaka ongokwesi profetho wezinsuku ezingama-360 ngokwesisekelo ‘sonyaka ngosuku.’ Sezizonke “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” zaziyokuba yiminyaka eyizi-2 520. Kusukela ekuchithweni kweJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E., zaziyophela ngo-1914 C.E.
13. Abafundi beBhayibheli baye bawazi kusukela nini unyaka wokuphela kweZikhathi zabeZizwe?
13 Ekuqaleni impela ngo-1880, umagazini iWatch Tower yathi iZikhathi zabeZizwe zaziyofinyelela onyakeni ka-1914. Khona-ke ngokukhishwa kwencwadi iThe Time Is at Hand ngo-1889, abafundi beBhayibheli emhlabeni wonke babuye baziswa ukuthi izikhathi zabeZizwe zaziyophela ekwindla ka-1914.
14. Naphezu kwalokho okwenzeka eJerusalema ngo-1948, kungani singathi izikhathi ZabeZizwe zaphela ngo-1914?
14 Khona-ke, ingabe ngalowonyaka iJerusalema lakudala layeka ukunyathelelwa phansi ngabangewona amaJuda, noma abeZizwe? Cha, ngoba ngo-1914 lomuzi womlando wawusezandleni zoMbuso waseTurkey, umngane wombuso waseJalimane. NgoDecember 9, 1917, wathathwa kumaTurkey ngamabutho amaNgisi ngaphansi kukaJenene Allenby. IJerusalema laqhubeka lingaphansi kokubusa kwamaNgisi ngegunya leNhlangano yeZizwe kwaze kwaba ngo-1948. Khona-ke amaJuda awavukela futhi athumba ingxenye engasentshonalanga yeJerusalema lanamuhla ngaphandle komuzi omdala obiyelwe. Lomuzi obiyelwe wathathwa abakwaMuhammad. Khona-ke, singasho kanjani ukuthi iZikhathi zabeZizwe zaphela ngo-1914? Ngoba ngalowonyaka uhulumeni weNkosi enkulu uJehova wazalwa ezulwini.
15, 16. (a) IJerusalema lakudala layeka nini ukuba “umuzi weNkosi enkulu” uJehova, kodwa iliphi iJerusalema eliphakanyiswe ngokwengeziwe elikhona? (b) Khona-ke, kukuphi lapho uJehova eye wamisa khona uJesu Kristu njengeNkosi?
15 Ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni, ithempeli likaNkulunkulu laliseJerusalema, futhi uJesu ekhonza khona. Ngakho iJerusalema lalingase libizwe ngokuthi “lingumuzi weNkosi enkulu” uJehova. (Mathewu 5:34, 35) Kodwa ngokuqinisekile ngokudabuka okuyisimangaliso kwesihenqo sangaphakathi sethempeli ekufeni kukaJesu ngoSuku lwePhasika lika-33 C.E., alibange lisaba umuzi wobukhosi kaJehova. Ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema nethempeli lalo ngabeZizwe abangamaRoma ngo-70 C.E. kwaliqinisekisa leloqiniso. Ngokujabulisayo ngamaKristu angamaJuda angalesosikhathi, nangawo wonke amaKristu kusukela lapho, kunelinye iJerusalema, eliphakeme kakhulu, “iJerusalema lasezulwini.”—Heberu 12:22.
16 Ngokuvumelana naleliqiniso, isiprofetho sikaJesu esilotshwe kuLuka 21:24 saqala ukusebenza eJerusalema lasemhlabeni kodwa kumelwe siphethe ngokubhekisela “eJerusalema lasezulwini.” Yebo, ngoba “iJerusalema lasezulwini” liye langena esikhundleni seJerusalema lasemhlabeni ‘njengomuzi weNkosi enkulu’ uJehova uNkulunkulu. Lapho ‘kulowomuzi wasezulwini,’ kwakuyindawo ‘yeNkosi enkulu’ uJehova, ukuba amise iNdodana yakhe ekhazinyulisiwe uJesu Kristu ekupheleni kweZikhathi zabeZizwe ngo-1914.
17. Ekupheleni kweZikhathi ZabeZizwe, imuphi umyalo waphezulu owanikezwa iNkosi esesihlalweni sobukhosi, uJesu Kristu, futhi obani abazinikela ngokuzithandela enkonzweni yakhe?
17 Leso kwakuyisikhathi esimiswe ngokwaphezulu sokuba uJehova atshele iNdodana yakhe esesihlalweni sobukhosi uJesu Kristu umyalo ohlanganiswe emazwini eHubo 110:2, 3: “Intonga yamandla akho uJehova uyakuyelula eseSiyoni; busa wena phakathi kwezitha zakho. Abantu bakho bayazinikela ngenjabulo ngosuku lwempi yakho; ebuhleni bobungcwele abasha bakho bavela njengamazolo esizalweni sokusa.” Njengoba lesisiprofetho sasho, “abantu” abazinikezele abalandela ezinyathelweni zikaJesu futhi baqaphela ukuphela kweZikhathi zabeZizwe ngo-1914 bazinikela ngokuzithandela ukuba bakhonze njengabamemezeli bokubusa okusanda kuqala kukaJehova uNkulunkulu eSiyoni lasezulwini ngeNkosi uJesu Kristu. Kodwa izizwe okuthiwa zingamaKristu azizange zizithobe ngokuzithandela eNkosini kaJehova esanda kubekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi. Eqinisweni, zazibonakalisa ‘ziyizitha’ zawo, ngoba zangenela impi yezwe yokuqala emlandweni wesintu ngempikiswano yokubusa umhlaba. Emhlabeni wonke zaphazamisa futhi ukumenyezelwa koMbuso kaNkulunkulu.
18. Ngo-1918, ibuphi ubufakazi obabukhona bokulwisana noMbuso kaNkulunkulu?
18 Ukulwisana noMbuso kaNkulunkulu kwaba sobala ikakhulukazi, ngo-1918. Ngo-May 8, 1918, umhleli kamagazini iWatch Tower nezinye izisebenzi eziningana ezikanye naye baboshwa phakathi nokudlondlobala kwempi. Kamuva, ngoJune 21, bagwetshwa iminyaka eminingi ejele laseAtlanta, eGeorgia, eU.S.A. Kuphela ngemva kokuba impi isiphelile futhi seziye zachitha izinyanga eziyisishiyagalombili ejele lezizikhonzi zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu zavunyelwa ukuba zikhishwe ejele ngesibambiso. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, zakhululwa kukho konke ukumangalelwa okungamanga ezazimangalelwe ngakho.
19. Ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, isiphi isimo esathathwa uMkhandlu Wamasonto AseMelika ngokuqondene neNhlangano Yezizwe?
19 IMpi Yezwe I yaphela ngoNovember 11, 1918, futhi ngenyanga elandelayo uMkhandlu Wamasonto KaKristu eMelika wamemezela obala ngokusekela kwawo iNhlangano Yezizwe eyayihlongozwa ngalesosikhathi. Leyonhlangano yenkolo yamemezela ukuthi leNhlangano “iwukubonakaliswa okungokombangazwe koMbuso kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni.” Ingakunaki lokho kutusa kwenkolo, ngenxa yezizathu zezombangazwe iUnited States of America yenqaba ukujoyina leNhlangano, yajoyina kuphela iNkantolo Yomhlaba. Kodwa leNhlangano yaqala ukusebenza ngo-1920, futhi amalungu oMkhandlu Wamasonto ayibusisa futhi ayisekela.
20. Isiphi isimo esathathwa abantu bakaJehova ngokuqondene neNhlangano Yezizwe, futhi yini abaqala ukuyimemezela?
20 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, umagazini iWatch Tower nabantu bakaJehova ababewusakaza benqaba ukuqaphela iNhlangano Yezizwe njengommeleli wezombangazwe woMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Abazange bayiqaphele njengegcwalisa uMthandazo weNkosi njengoba wafundiswa uJesu Kristu: “Mawufike umbuso wakho, mayenziwe intando yakho emhlabeni njengasezulwini.” (Mathewu 6:9, 10) Abazange bazinikele ukukhonza lowommeleli owenziwe umuntu, leyomfeketho! Kunalokho, bathembeka eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu woqobo ezandleni zikaJesu Kristu “eJerusalema lasezulwini.” Ngosizo lukaNkulunkulu, babeye basiqonda ngokufanele “isibonakaliso” “sokuba khona kukaJesu nesesiphelo besimiso sezinto.” Ngakho baphumela ukumemezela uMbuso emhlabeni wonke.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Isiphi “isibonakaliso” esibonakalayo namuhla, futhi ziyini ezinye zezici zaso?
◻ Singakugwema kanjani ukwesaba manje okuphethe abaholi abangabantu?
◻ Zaqala nini iZikhathi ZabeZizwe futhi zaphela nini?
◻ Yiliphi “iJerusalema” uJehova aye wamisa kulo uJesu Kristu njengeNkosi?
◻ Abantu bakaJehova bayibheka kanjani iNhlangano Yezizwe?
[Ishadi ekhasini 11]
October, 607 B.C.E. — October, 1 B.C.E. = iminyaka engama-606
October, 1 B.C.E. — October, 1914 C.E. = iminyaka eyi-1 914
IZIKHATHI ZABEZIZWE EZIYISIKHOMBISA = iminyaka eyizi 2 520
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Labo abaqonda “isibonakaliso” ngokufanele bangasinda ekupheleni kwalesimiso, njengoba nabantu abayisishiyagalombili basinda kuZamcolo