ISahluko 20
Isixuku Esikhulu Esingenakubalwa
1. Iliphi elinye iqembu uJohane alibonayo ngemva kokuchaza ukubekwa uphawu kwabangu-144 000?
EMVA kokuba esechaze ukubekwa uphawu kwabangu-144 000, uJohane uqhubeka abike esinye sezambulo ezivusa amadlingozi kunazo zonke kuwo wonke umBhalo. Kumelwe ukuba inhliziyo yakhe yagcwala injabulo lapho esibika, ethi: “Ngemva kwalezi zinto ngabona, bheka! isixuku esikhulu, okungekho muntu owakwazi ukusibala, siphuma kuzo zonke izizwe nezinhlanga nabantu nezilimi, simi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi naphambi kweWundlu, sigqoke izembatho ezimhlophe; kukhona amagatsha esundu ezandleni zaso.” (IsAmbulo 7:9) Yebo, ukubanjwa kwemimoya emine kuvumela ukusindiswa kwelinye iqembu ngaphandle kuka-Israyeli ongokomoya ongamalungu angu-144 000: isixuku esikhulu sazo zonke izilimi, sezizwe zonke.a—IsAmbulo 7:1.
2. Abakhulumeli bezwe baye basichaza kanjani isixuku esikhulu, futhi ngisho nabaFundi BeBhayibheli baye balibheka kanjani leli qembu esikhathini esidlule?
2 Abakhulumeli bezwe baye bachaza lesi sixuku esikhulu ngokuthi singabangemaJuda abaguqukele ebuKristwini noma ngokuthi abafel’ ukholo abangamaKristu abayokuya ezulwini. Ngisho nabaFundi BeBhayibheli esikhathini esidlule babesibheka njengesigaba sesibili sasezulwini, njengoba kwaphawulwa ngo-1886, eMqulwini I wethi Studies in the Scriptures, The Divine Plan of the Ages: “Silahlekelwa umvuzo wesihlalo sobukhosi nesimo sasezulwini, kodwa ekugcineni sifinyelela ukuzalwa njengabantu bomoya besigaba esiphansi kunesimo sasezulwini. Nakuba laba bezinikezele ngeqiniso, bahlulwa umoya wezwe kangangokuthi bayahluleka ukunikela ngokuphila kwabo kube umhlatshelo.” Futhi kamuva kangango-1930, kwavezwa lo mqondo eNcwadini Yokuqala yethi Light: “Labo abakha lesi sixuku esikhulu bayahluleka ukusabela esimemweni sokuba ofakazi beNkosi abashisekayo.” Bachazwa njengeqembu elizenzisayo elinolwazi lweqiniso kodwa elenza okuncane kakhulu ngokulushumayela. Babezokuya ezulwini njengesigaba sesibili esingeke sihlanganyele ekubuseni noKristu.
3. (a) Iliphi ithemba elalibekwe phambi kwabathile ababenezinhliziyo ezilungileyo kamuva abashiseka emsebenzini wokushumayela? (b) INqabayokulinda ngo-1923 yawuchaza kanjani umfanekiso wezimvu nezimbuzi?
3 Nokho, kwakunabanye abangane bamaKristu agcotshiwe kamuva abashiseka kakhulu emsebenzini wokushumayela. Babengenaso isifiso sokuya ezulwini. Ngempela, ithemba labo lalivumelana nesihloko senkulumo yeningi esaqokonyiswa abantu bakaJehova kusukela ngo-1918 kuya ku-1922. Ekuqaleni yayinesihloko esithi “Izwe Seliphelile—Izigidi Eziphila Manje Azisoze Zafa.”b Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, umagazini INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-October 15, 1923, wachaza umfanekiso kaJesu wezimvu nezimbuzi (Mathewu 25:31-46), uthi: “Izimvu zimelele bonke abantu bezizwe, abangazelwe ngomoya kodwa abathambekele ekulungeni, abamqaphela ngengqondo uJesu Kristu njengeNkosi futhi abafuna nabanethemba lokuthi kuyokuba nesikhathi esingcono ngaphansi kokubusa kwakhe.”
4. Ukukhanya ngokuqondene nesigaba sasemhlabeni kwaqhubeka kanjani kukhanya ngo-1931? ngo-1932? ngo-1934?
4 Eminyakeni ethile kamuva, ngo-1931, iNcwadi Yokuqala yethi Vindication, yaxoxa ngoHezekeli isahluko 9, ichaza labo bantu ababekwe uphawu lokusinda emabunzini abo ekupheleni kwezwe njengezimvu zomfanekiso ongenhla. INcwadi Yesithathu yethi Vindication, eyakhishwa ngo-1932, yachaza isimo senhliziyo esiqotho sendoda eyayingeyena umIsrayeli uJehonadaba, eyagibela neNkosi yakwa-Israyeli uJehu enqoleni yayo futhi yahamba ukuyobona intshiseko kaJehu ekubhubhiseni abenkolo yamanga. (2 AmaKhosi 10:15-17) Incwadi yathi: “UJehonadaba wamelela noma wafanekisela leso sigaba sabantu abathanda okuhle manje abalapha emhlabeni ngesikhathi lapho umsebenzi kaJehu [wokumemezela izahlulelo zikaJehova] uqhubeka khona, abangavumelani nenhlangano kaSathane, abamelela uhlangothi lokulunga, futhi iNkosi eyobalondoloza ngesikhathi se-Armagedoni, ibadlulise kuleyo nkathazo, futhi ibanike ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni. Laba bakha isigaba ‘sezimvu.’” Ngo-1934 INqabayokulinda yakwenza kwacaca ukuthi la maKristu anamathemba asemhlabeni kufanele azinikezele kuJehova futhi abhapathizwe. Ukukhanya ngokuqondene nalesi sigaba sasemhlabeni kwakuya kukhanya ngokwengeziwe.—IzAga 4:18.
5. (a) Ikuphi ukuchazwa kwesixuku esikhulu okwenziwa ngo-1935? (b) Yini eyenzeka lapho uJ. F. Rutherford ngo-1935 ecela abeze emhlanganweni ababenethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni ukuba basukume?
5 Ukuqondwa kwesAmbulo 7:9-17 manje kwase kuzokhanya ngakho konke ukukhazimula kwakho! (IHubo 97:11) Umagazini INqabayokulinda wawunikeze ngokuphindaphindiwe ithemba lokuthi umhlangano owawuhlelelwe u-May 30 kuya ku-June 3, 1935, eWashington, D.C., e-U.S.A. wawuyoba “induduzo nenzuzo yangempela” kulabo abafanekiselwa uJehonadaba. Waba yiyo ngempela! Enkulumweni eshukumisayo eyayithi “Isixuku Esikhulu,” eyanikezwa ababeze emhlanganweni ababengaba ngu-20 000, uJ. F. Rutherford, owayehola emsebenzini wokushumayela emhlabeni wonke ngaleso sikhathi, wanikeza ubufakazi obungokomBhalo bokuthi ezinye izimvu zosuku lwanamuhla ziyafana naleso sixuku esikhulu sesAmbulo 7:9. Emvuthwandaba wale nkulumo, isikhulumi sabuza: “Bangasiza yini basukume bonke labo abanethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni?” Njengoba ingxenye enkulu yezilaleli isukuma, isikhulumi samemeza: “Bheka! Isixuku esikhulu!” Kwathula kwathi cwaka, kwalandela ukuhalalisa okukhulu. Yeka ukuthi sajabula kanjani isigaba sikaJohane—neqembu lamaJehonadaba! Ngosuku olulandelayo, oFakazi abasha abangu-840 babhapathizwa, abaningi balaba bevuma ukuthi bangabaleso sixuku esikhulu.
Ukuqinisekisa Ukuthi Singobani Isixuku Esikhulu
6. (a) Kungani singakuqonda ngokucacile ukuthi isixuku esikhulu siyiqembu losuku lwanamuhla lamaKristu azinikezele anethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni? (b) Zifanekiselani izembatho ezimhlophe zesixuku esikhulu?
6 Singasho kanjani ngokuqiniseka okungaka ukuthi isixuku esikhulu siyileli qembu losuku lwanamuhla lamaKristu azinikezele anethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni kaNkulunkulu? Ngaphambili, uJohane wayebone embonweni iqembu lasezulwini ‘labathengelwe uNkulunkulu kuzo zonke izinhlanga nezilimi nabantu nezizwe.’ (IsAmbulo 5:9, 10) Isixuku esikhulu sinemvelaphi efanayo kodwa siya endaweni ehlukile. Ngokungafani no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu, isibalo saso asinqunyiwe. Akukho muntu ongasho kusengaphambili ukuthi siyoba ngaki. Izingubo zaso zihlanzwe zaba mhlophe egazini leWundlu, okufanekisela ukuthi silungile phambi kukaJehova ngenxa yokholo lwaso emhlatshelweni kaJesu. (IsAmbulo 7:14) Futhi siphakamisé amagatsha esundu, sidumisa uMesiya njengeNkosi yaso.
7, 8. (a) Ngokungangabazeki ukuphakamisa amagatsha esundu kwamkhumbuza ziphi izehlakalo umphostoli uJohane? (b) Lisho ukuthini iqiniso lokuthi labo besixuku esikhulu baphakamisé amagatsha esundu?
7 Njengoba uJohane ebukele lo mbono, kumelwe ukuba imicabango yakhe imbuyisela emuva eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-60 esontweni likaJesu lokugcina esemhlabeni. Ngo-Nisani 9, 33 C.E., lapho isixuku sibuthana ukuzokwamukela uJesu eJerusalema, “sathatha amagatsha emithi yesundu saphuma siyomhlangabeza. Futhi samemeza: ‘Siyakunxusa, sindisa! Ubusisiwe oza egameni likaJehova, yebo inkosi yakwa-Israyeli!’” (Johane 12:12, 13) Ngendlela efanayo, ukuphakamisa amagatsha esundu nokumemeza kwesixuku esikhulu kubonisa injabulo yaso engabanjiwe ekwamukeleni uJesu njengeNkosi kaJehova emisiwe.
8 Ngokungangabazeki, amagatsha esundu nokumemeza kokudumisa kukhumbuza futhi uJohane ngomkhosi ka-Israyeli wasendulo, uMkhosi Wamadokodo. Ngalo mkhosi, uJehova wayala: “Ngosuku lokuqala kumelwe nizithathele izithelo zemithi emihle, amaqabunga emithi yesundu namagatsha emithi enamagatsha amaningi nobhabhulini besigodi sesifufula, nijabule phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu izinsuku eziyisikhombisa.” Amagatsha esundu ayesetshenziswa njengophawu lokuthokoza. Amadokodo esikhashana ayeyisikhumbuzo sokuthi uJehova wayesindise abantu bakhe eGibhithe, ukuba bahlale ematendeni ehlane. “[U]mfokazi nentandane nomfelokazi” babehlanganyela kulo mkhosi. Wonke u-Israyeli ‘kwakumelwe ajabule nje kuphela.’—Levitikusi 23:40; Duteronomi 16:13-15.
9. Isixuku esikhulu sihlanganyela kukuphi ukumemeza kwenjabulo?
9 Khona-ke, kuyafaneleka ukuthi isixuku esikhulu, nakuba singeyona ingxenye ka-Israyeli ongokomoya, siphakamise amagatsha esundu, njengoba ngenjabulo nangokubonga sidumisa uNkulunkulu neWundlu ngokunqoba nangensindiso, njengoba uJohane ephawula lapha: “Saqhubeka simemeza ngezwi elikhulu, sithi: ‘Insindiso yethu ivela kuNkulunkulu wethu, ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi, nakulo iWundlu.’” (IsAmbulo 7:10) Nakuba sithathwe kuzo zonke izinhlanga, isixuku esikhulu simemeza ngalelo “zwi elikhulu” elilodwa kuphela. Singakwenza kanjani lokhu, phezu kokwehlukana kwaso ngobuzwe nangezilimi?
10. Isixuku esikhulu singamemeza kanjani ngobunye “ngezwi” elilodwa “elikhulu” naphezu kokwehlukahlukana kwezizwe nezilimi?
10 Lesi sixuku esikhulu siyingxenye yokuwukuphela kwenhlangano enobunye beqiniso enezizwe eziningi emhlabeni namuhla. Asinazo izindinganiso ezihlukene zamazwe ahlukene kodwa sisebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli eziqondile ngokungaguquki noma kuphi lapho sikhona. Asihilelekile ezinhlanganweni zobuzwe zokuvukela, kodwa ngempela siye ‘sakhanda izinkemba zaba ngamageja.’ (Isaya 2:4) Asihlukene saba amahlelo, kangangokuthi sikhulume izigijimi eziphambene noma eziphikisanayo njengoba kwenza izinkolo zeLobukholwa; futhi asiyekeli isigaba sabafundele ubufundisi ukuba sisenzele ukudumisa. Asimemezi sithi sibonga insindiso kumoya ongcwele, ngoba asizona izinceku zikankulunkulu oziqu-zintathu. Emazweni angaba ngu-200 emhlabeni wonke, simunye ekubizeni igama likaJehova njengoba sikhuluma ulimi olulodwa oluhlanzekile lweqiniso. (Zefaniya 3:9) Ngokufanelekile, sivuma obala ukuthi insindiso yaso ivela kuJehova, uNkulunkulu wensindiso, ngoJesu Kristu, uMmeleli waKhe Oyinhloko wensindiso.—IHubo 3:8; Hebheru 2:10.
11. Ubuchwepheshe banamuhla buye babasiza kanjani labo besixuku esikhulu ukuba bazwakalise izwi labo elikhulu ngisho nangokwengeziwe?
11 Ubuchwepheshe banamuhla buye basiza ekwenzeni izwi elikhulu lesixuku esikhulu esinobunye ukuba lizwakale ngisho nakakhulu. Alikho elinye iqembu lenkolo emhlabeni elinesidingo sokusakaza izincwadi zokutadisha iBhayibheli ngezilimi ezingaphezu kuka-400, ngoba alikho elinye iqembu elinesithakazelo sokufinyelela bonke abantu bomhlaba nesigijimi esisodwa esihlangene. Njengosizo olwengeziwe kulokhu, kwakhiwa iMultilanguage Electronic Phototypesetting System (MEPS), ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweNdikimba Ebusayo YoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngesikhathi kunyatheliswa le ncwadi, izinhlobo ezihlukahlukene ze-MEPS bezisetshenziswa ezindaweni ezingaphezu kuka-125 emhlabeni wonke, futhi lokhu kuye kwasiza ekubeni kushicilelwe ngesikhathi esisodwa umagazini ophuma kabili ngenyanga, INqabayokulinda, ngezilimi ezevile ku-130. Abantu bakaJehova futhi bashicilela ngesikhathi esisodwa izincwadi, njengalena, ngezilimi eziningi. Kanjalo, oFakazi BakaJehova, abaningi kakhulu babo abakha isixuku esikhulu, bayakwazi ukusakaza minyaka yonke amakhulu ezigidi zezincwadi ngazo zonke izilimi ezaziwa kangcono, besiza izixuku ezengeziwe ezivela kuzo zonke izizwe nezilimi ukuba zitadishe iZwi likaNkulunkulu futhi zinezele ngamazwi azo ezwini elikhulu lesixuku esikhulu.—Isaya 42:10, 12.
Ezulwini Noma Emhlabeni?
12, 13. Kungayiphi indlela isixuku esikhulu “simi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi naphambi kweWundlu”?
12 Sazi kanjani ukuthi ‘ukuma phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi’ akusho ukuthi isixuku esikhulu sisezulwini? Kunobufakazi obucace kakhulu ngaleli phuzu. Ngokwesibonelo, igama lesiGreki lapha elihunyushwe ngokuthi “phambi” (e·noʹpi·on) ngokwezwi nezwi lisho ukuthi “emehlweni ka-” futhi lisetshenziswa izikhathi eziningi ngabantu abasemhlabeni ‘abaphambi’ noma ‘abasemehlweni’ kaJehova. (1 Thimothewu 5:21; 2 Thimothewu 2:14; Roma 14:22; Galathiya 1:20) Ngesinye isikhathi lapho ama-Israyeli esehlane, uMose wathi ku-Aroni: “Yisho kuyo yonke inhlangano yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli uthi, ‘Sondelani phambi kukaJehova, ngoba ukuzwile ukububula kwenu.’” (Eksodusi 16:9) Akuzange kudingeke ukuba ama-Israyeli athuthelwe ezulwini ukuze ayokuma phambi kukaJehova ngaleso sikhathi. (Qhathanisa noLevitikusi 24:8.) Kunalokho, khona lapho ehlane ama lapho uJehova ayengawabona khona, futhi ukunakekela kwakhe kwakukuwo.
13 Ngaphezu kwalokho, siyafunda: “Lapho iNdodana yomuntu ifika enkazimulweni yayo . . . zonke izizwe ziyobuthelwa phambi kwayo.” Lonke uhlanga lwesintu luyobe lungekho ezulwini lapho lesi siprofetho sigcwaliseka. Ngokuqinisekile, labo ‘abamukayo beya ekunqunyweni kwaphakade’ bayobe bengekho ezulwini. (Mathewu 25:31-33, 41, 46) Kunalokho, isintu simi emhlabeni lapho uJesu engasibona khona, futhi uphendulela ukunakekela kwakhe ekusahluleleni. Ngokufanayo, isixuku esikhulu “simi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi naphambi kweWundlu” ngomqondo wokuthi simi lapho engasibona khona uJehova neNkosi yakhe, uKristu Jesu, esamukela kubo isahlulelo esihle.
14. (a) Obani abachazwa ‘njengabazungeze isihlalo sobukhosi’ ‘nabami eNtabeni iZiyoni [yasezulwini]’? (b) Nakuba isixuku esikhulu sikhonza uNkulunkulu “ethempelini lakhe,” kungani lokhu kungasenzi sibe isigaba sabapristi?
14 Abadala abangu-24 neqembu eligcotshiwe labangu-144 000 bachazwa ‘njengabazungeze isihlalo sobukhosi’ sikaJehova ‘nanjengabami eNtabeni iZiyoni [yasezulwini].’ (IsAmbulo 4:4; 14:1) Isixuku esikhulu asisona isigaba sabapristi futhi asifinyeleli kuleso sikhundla esiphakeme. Yiqiniso, kamuva sichazwa kusAmbulo 7:15 njengesikhonza uNkulunkulu “ethempelini lakhe.” Kodwa leli thempeli alibhekiseli eNgcwelengcwele. Kunalokho, lingamagceke asemhlabeni ethempeli likaNkulunkulu elingokomoya. Igama lesiGreki elithi na·osʹ, lapha elihunyushwe ngokuthi “ithempeli,” ngokuvamile linomqondo obanzi walo lonke ilungiselelo lokukhulekelwa kukaJehova. Namuhla lesi isimo esingokomoya esihlanganisa kokubili izulu nomhlaba.—Qhathanisa noMathewu 26:61; 27:5, 39, 40; Marku 15:29, 30; Johane 2:19-21, umbhalo waphansi we-New World Translation Reference Bible.
Ukumemeza Kokudumisa Kwendawo Yonke
15, 16. (a) Kuyini ukusabela ezulwini lapho kuvela isixuku esikhulu? (b) Isabela kanjani indalo kaJehova yomoya ekwambulweni okusha kwaleyo naleyo njongo yakhe? (c) Thina esisemhlabeni singahlanganyela kanjani engomeni yokudumisa?
15 Isixuku esikhulu sidumisa uJehova, kodwa futhi nabanye bahlabelela izindumiso zakhe. UJohane uyabika: “Zonke izingelosi zazimi zizungeze isihlalo sobukhosi nabadala nezidalwa ezine eziphilayo, futhi zawa ngobuso phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi zakhulekela uNkulunkulu, zithi: ‘Amen! Isibusiso nenkazimulo nokuhlakanipha nokubonga nodumo namandla makube kuNkulunkulu wethu kuze kube phakade naphakade. Amen.’”—IsAmbulo 7:11, 12.
16 Lapho uJehova edala umhlaba, zonke izingelosi zakhe ezingcwele, ‘zakhamuluka kanyekanye ngenjabulo, nawo wonke amadodana kaNkulunkulu aqala ukumemeza ehalalisa.’ (Jobe 38:7) Kumelwe ukuba ngakunye ukwembulwa okusha kwenjongo kaJehova kwabangela okufanayo ukumemeza kokudumisa kwezingelosi. Lapho abadala abangu-24—abangu-144 000 enkazimulweni yabo yasezulwini—bememeza ngezwi elikhulu beqaphela iWundlu, zonke ezinye izidalwa zikaNkulunkulu zasezulwini ziyahlanganyela ekudumiseni uJesu noJehova uNkulunkulu. (IsAmbulo 5:9-14) Kakade, lezi zidalwa ziye zachichima injabulo lapho zibona ukugcwaliseka kwenjongo kaJehova ekuvuseleni kwakhe abantu abagcotshiwe abathembekile esikhundleni esikhazimulayo endaweni yomoya. Manje, zonke izidalwa zikaJehova zasezulwini ezithembekile zihlokoma ngokuhlabelela izindumiso njengoba kuvela isixuku esikhulu. Ngempela, ngazo zonke izinceku zikaJehova, usuku lweNkosi luyisikhathi okuvusa amadlingozi ukuphila kuso. (IsAmbulo 1:10) Lapha emhlabeni, yeka ukuthi sinelungelo kangakanani ngokuhlanganyela engomeni yokudumisa ngokufakazela uMbuso kaJehova!
Isixuku Esikhulu Siyavela
17. (a) Imuphi umbuzo ophakanyiswa omunye wabadala abangu-24, futhi iqiniso lokuthi umdala wakwazi ukuthola impendulo lisikiselani? (b) Umbuzo womdala waphendulwa nini?
17 Kusukela esikhathini somphostoli uJohane kuze kube phakathi nosuku lweNkosi, amaKristu agcotshiwe ayedidekile ngokuthi singobani isixuku esikhulu. Khona-ke, kuyafaneleka ukuthi omunye wabadala abangu-24, omelele abagcotshiwe asebesezulwini kakade, ashukumise ukucabanga kukaJohane ngokuphakamisa umbuzo ofanelekayo. “Esabela kulokhu omunye kubadala wathi kimi: ‘Laba abagqoké izembatho ezimhlophe, bangobani futhi bavelephi?’ Ngaso leso sikhathi ngathi kuye: ‘Nkosi yami, nguwe owaziyo.’” (IsAmbulo 7:13, 14a) Yebo, lowo mdala wayengayithola impendulo futhi ayinike uJohane. Lokhu kusikisela ukuthi abavusiwe beqembu labadala abangu-24 kungenzeka bahilelekile ekudluliseleni amaqiniso aphezulu namuhla. Ngokwabo, labo besigaba sikaJohane emhlabeni isixuku esikhulu basazi ngokuqaphelisisa lokho uJehova ayekwenza phakathi kwabo. Bashesha ukuqaphela umsebe okhazimulayo wokukhanya kwaphezulu owakhanyisa umkhathi ongokwasezulwini ngo-1935, ngesikhathi sikaJehova esifanele.
18, 19. (a) Iliphi ithemba elagcizelelwa isigaba sikaJohane phakathi nawo-1920 nawo-1930, kodwa obani abasabela ngamanani andayo esigijimini? (b) Ukuchazwa kwesixuku esikhulu ngo-1935 kwabonisani ngokuqondene nabangu-144 000? (c) Izibalo zeSikhumbuzo zembulani?
18 Phakathi nawo-1920 nasekuqaleni kwawo-1930, isigaba sikaJohane sasigcizelele ithemba lasezulwini, kokubili ezincwadini nasemsebenzini wokushumayela. Ngokusobala, isibalo esiphelele sabangu-144 000 kwakusafanele sigcwaliswe. Kodwa amanani andayo alabo abalalela isigijimi nababonisa intshiseko emsebenzini wokufakaza eza ukuzovuma isithakazelo sawo ekuphileni phakade emhlabeni oyiPharadesi. Babengenasifiso sokuya ezulwini. Lolo kwakungelona ubizo lwabo. Babengeyona ingxenye yomhlambi omncane kodwa kunalokho babeyingxenye yezinye izimvu. (Luka 12:32; Johane 10:16) Ukuchazwa kwabo ngo-1935 njengesixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu kwakuyisibonakaliso sokuthi ngaleso sikhathi ukukhethwa kwabangu-144 000 kwase kucishe kuphele.
19 Ingabe izibalo ziyasisekela lesi siphetho? Yebo, ziyasisekela. Ngo-1938, emhlabeni wonke, oFakazi BakaJehova abangu-59 047 bahlanganyela enkonzweni. Kulaba, abangu-36 732 badla izifanekiselo ekugujweni kweSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaJesu saminyaka yonke, ngaleyo ndlela bebonisa ukuthi banobizo lwasezulwini. Eminyakeni eyalandela kusukela lapho, isibalo salaba bahlanganyeli siye sancipha kancane kancane, ngokuyinhloko ngenxa yokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova abathembekile baye baqeda inkambo yabo yasemhlabeni ngokufa. Ngo-2005 bangu-8 524 kuphela abadla izifanekiselo zeSikhumbuzo—amaphesenti angu-0,05 kuphela kwabangu-16 390 116 ababa khona kulowo mkhosi womhlaba wonke.
20. (a) Phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, ikuphi ukuphawula uJ. F. Rutherford akwenza ngasese ngesixuku esikhulu? (b) Imaphi amaqiniso manje abonisa ukuthi isixuku esikhulu sikhulu ngempela?
20 Lapho kugqashuka impi yezwe yesibili, uSathane wenza umzamo omkhulu wokumisa ukuvunwa kwesixuku esikhulu. Umsebenzi kaJehova wavinjelwa emazweni amaningi. Phakathi nalezo zinsuku zobumnyama, nangaphambi nje kokufa kwakhe ngo-January 1942, uJ. F. Rutherford wazwakala ngasese ethi: “Nokho, . . . kubonakala sengathi isixuku esikhulu asizukuba sikhulu kangako.” Kodwa isibusiso saphezulu saqondisa ngokwehlukile! Ngo-1946 isibalo soFakazi ababekhonza emhlabeni wonke sase sinyuke saba ngu-176 456—abaningi balaba bengabesixuku esikhulu. Ngo-2005 kwakunoFakazi abangu-6 390 022 ababekhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka emazweni ahlukene angu-235—ISIXUKU ESIKHULU ngempela! Futhi isibalo siyaqhubeka sinyuka.
21. (a) Ukuvunwa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu phakathi nosuku lweNkosi kuye kwavumelana kanjani ngokugcwele nombono kaJohane? (b) Ezinye iziprofetho ezibalulekile zaqala kanjani ukugcwaliseka?
21 Kanjalo ukuvunwa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu phakathi nosuku lweNkosi kuye kwavumelana ngokuphelele nombono kaJohane: okokuqala ukuqoqwa kwabasele kwabangu-144-000; kwase kuba ukuqoqwa kwesixuku esikhulu. Njengoba u-Isaya aprofetha, manje “engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku,” abantu bazo zonke izizwe bagobhozela ukuzohlanganyela ekukhulekelweni kukaJehova okuhlanzekile. Futhi, ngempela siyajabula ngokwazisa ngendalo kaJehova ‘yamazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha.’ (Isaya 2:2-4; 65:17, 18) UNkulunkulu ubuthela “ndawonye zonke izinto kuKristu, izinto ezisezulwini nezinto ezisemhlabeni.” (Efesu 1:10) Izindlalifa ezigcotshiwe zoMbuso wasezulwini—ezikhethwe emakhulwini eminyaka adlule kusukela osukwini lukaJesu—‘ziyizinto ezisezulwini.’ Futhi manje, isixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu sibonakala singokokuqala ‘kwezinto ezisemhlabeni.’ Ukukhonza kwakho ngokuvumelana nalelo lungiselelo kungasho injabulo yaphakade ngawe.
Izibusiso Zesixuku Esikhulu
22. Ikuphi ukwaziswa okwengeziwe uJohane akwamukelayo ngokuqondene nesixuku esikhulu?
22 Ngomzila waphezulu, uJohane wamukela ukwaziswa okwengeziwe ngokuqondene nalesi sixuku esikhulu: “[Umdala] wathi kimi: ‘Laba yilabo abaphuma osizini olukhulu, abaye bahlanza izembatho zabo zaba mhlophe egazini leWundlu. Kungakho bephambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu; banikela inkonzo engcwele kuye imini nobusuku ethempelini lakhe; Lowo ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi uyokwendlala itende lakhe phezu kwabo.’”—IsAmbulo 7:14b, 15.
23. Luyini usizi olukhulu isixuku esikhulu ‘esiphuma kulo’?
23 Esikhathini esithile ngaphambili, uJesu wayethé ukuba khona kwakhe enkazimulweni yoMbuso kwakuyofinyelela umvuthwandaba ‘osizini olukhulu olungakaze lube khona kusukela ekuqaleni kwezwe kuze kube manje, cha, futhi olungasayikuphinde lube khona.’ (Mathewu 24:21, 22) Ekugcwalisekeni kwaleso siprofetho, izingelosi ziyodedela imimoya emine yomhlaba ukuba ibhubhise isimiso sezwe sikaSathane. Okuyobhubha kuqala kuyoba iBhabhiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. Khona-ke, emvuthwandaba wosizi, uJesu uyokhulula abayobe besasele emhlabeni kwabangu-144 000, kanye nesixuku esikhulu esingenakubalwa.—IsAmbulo 7:1; 18:2.
24. Abantu ngabanye besixuku esikhulu bakufanelekela kanjani ukusinda?
24 Abantu ngabanye besixuku esikhulu bakufanelekela kanjani ukusinda? Umdala utshela uJohane ukuthi baye “bahlanza izembatho zabo zaba mhlophe egazini leWundlu.” Ngamanye amazwi, baye babonisa ukholo kuJesu njengoMhlengi wabo, bazinikezela kuJehova, babonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwabo ngobhapathizo lwamanzi, futhi ‘banonembeza omuhle’ ngokuziphatha kwabo okuqotho. (1 Petru 3:16, 21; Mathewu 20:28) Kanjalo, bahlanzekile futhi balungile emehlweni kaJehova. Futhi bazigcina ‘bengenalo ibala ezweni.’—Jakobe 1:27.
25. (a) Isixuku esikhulu siyinikela kanjani kuJehova “inkonzo engcwele . . . imini nobusuku ethempelini lakhe”? (b) UJehova ‘ulendlala kanjani itende lakhe’ phezu kwesixuku esikhulu?
25 Ngaphezu kwalokho, baye baba oFakazi BakaJehova abashisekayo—“banikela inkonzo engcwele kuye imini nobusuku ethempelini lakhe.” Ingabe ungomunye walesi sixuku esikhulu esizinikezele? Uma kunjalo kuyilungelo lakho ukukhonza uJehova ngokungayeki egcekeni lasemhlabeni lethempeli lakhe elikhulu elingokomoya. Namuhla, ngaphansi kokuqondisa kwabagcotshiwe, isixuku esikhulu senza ingxenye enkulu kakhulu yomsebenzi wokufakaza. Naphezu kwemithwalo yemisebenzi yokuziphilisa, amakhulu ezinkulungwane aso aye enza ithuba lenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele njengamaphayona. Kodwa noma ukulelo qembu noma cha, njengelungu elizinikezele lesixuku esikhulu ungajabula ngokuthi ngenxa yokholo lwakho nemisebenzi ubizwa ngokuthi ulungile njengomngane kaNkulunkulu futhi uyamukelwa njengesimenywa etendeni lakhe. (IHubo 15:1-5; Jakobe 2:21-26) Ngaleyo ndlela uJehova ‘undlala itende lakhe’ phezu kwalabo abamthandayo, futhi, njengomninikhaya omuhle, abavikele.—IzAga 18:10.
26. Iziphi ezinye izibusiso eziyojatshulelwa isixuku esikhulu?
26 Umdala uyaqhubeka: “Ngeke besalamba noma besoma, ilanga nanoma yikuphi ukushisa okuhangulayo ngeke kusabashisa, ngoba iWundlu, eliphakathi kwesihlalo sobukhosi, liyobelusa, futhi liyobaqondisa emithonjeni yamanzi okuphila. UNkulunkulu uyosula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni abo.” (IsAmbulo 7:16, 17) Yebo, uJehova uziphatha kahle izihambi! Kodwa kungakanani ukujula kwencazelo yala mazwi?
27. (a) U-Isaya wakuprofetha kanjani okuthile okufana namazwi omdala? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi lesi siprofetho sika-Isaya saqala ukugcwaliseka ebandleni lobuKristu ngosuku lukaPawulu?
27 Make sicabangele isiprofetho esinamazwi afanayo: “Yilokhu akushilo uJehova: ‘Ngesikhathi sokuthakazelelwa ngikuphendulile, futhi ngosuku lwensindiso ngikusizile . . . Ngeke balambe, ngeke futhi bome, nokushisa okuhangulayo nelanga ngeke kubahlabe. Ngoba Lowo obahawukelayo uyobahola, futhi uyobaholela ngaseziphethwini zamanzi.’” (Isaya 49:8, 10; bheka futhi iHubo 121:5, 6.) Umphostoli uPawulu wacaphuna ingxenye yalesi siprofetho wayisebenzisa ‘osukwini lwensindiso’ olwaqala ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. Wabhala: “Ngoba [uJehova] yena uthi: ‘Ngesikhathi esamukelekayo ngakuzwa, nangosuku lwensindiso ngakusiza.’ Bhekani! Manje yiso isikhathi esamukeleka ngokukhethekile. Bhekani! Manje yilo usuku lwensindiso.”—2 Korinte 6:2.
28, 29. (a) Amazwi ka-Isaya agcwaliseka kanjani ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka? (b) Amazwi esAmbulo 7:16 agcwaliseka kanjani ngokuqondene nesixuku esikhulu? (c) Uyoba yini umphumela wokuqondiswa kwesixuku esikhulu “emithonjeni yamanzi okuphila”? (d) Kungani isixuku esikhulu siyoba esihlukile phakathi kwesintu?
28 Emuva ngaleso sikhathi sasebenza kanjani isithembiso sokungalambi noma ukungomi noma ukungashiswa yilanga? Ngokuqinisekile, amaKristu ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka ayelamba futhi ome ngokoqobo ngezinye izikhathi. (2 Korinte 11:23-27) Nokho, ngendlela engokomoya ayenenala. Ayelungiselelwa ngokucebile, kangangokuthi awazange alambele noma omele izinto ezingokomoya. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova akazange abangele ukuba ukushisa kolaka lwakhe kuwavuthele lapho ebhubhisa isimiso sezinto samaJuda ngo-70 C.E. Amazwi esAmbulo 7:16 anokugcwaliseka okungokomoya okufanayo ngesixuku esikhulu namuhla. Sijabulela amalungiselelo angokomoya acebile kanye namaKristu agcotshiwe.—Isaya 65:13; Nahume 1:6, 7.
29 Uma ungomunye waleso sixuku esikhulu, isimo sakho esihle senhliziyo siyokwenza ‘ukhamuluke ngenjabulo,’ kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yini okufanele uyibekezelele ngenxa yokuswela nokucindezeleka phakathi neminyaka yokugcina yesimiso sikaSathane. (Isaya 65:14) Ngalowo mqondo, ngisho namanje, uJehova ‘angazesula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni akho.’ “Ilanga” likaNkulunkulu elishisayo lesahlulelo esibi alisakwethusi, futhi lapho imimoya emine yembubhiso idedelwa, ungasinda ‘ekushiseni okuhangulayo’ kwentukuthelo kaJehova. Ngemva kokuba leyo mbubhiso isidlulile, iWundlu liyokuhola ukuze uzuze ngokugcwele “emithonjeni yamanzi okuphila” eqabulayo, emelele wonke amalungiselelo uJehova awenzela ukuba uzuze ukuphila okuphakade. Ukholo lwakho egazini leWundlu luyolwelwa ngokuthi uyolethwa kancane kancane ekupheleleni kobuntu. Nina besixuku esikhulu niyoba abahlukile esintwini “njengezigidi” okungazange kudingeke ngisho nokuba zife! Zonke izinyembezi ziyosulwa emehlweni enu ngomqondo ophelele.—IsAmbulo 21:4.
Ukuqinisekisa Ubizo
30. Imuphi umbono omuhle owambuleka kithi embonweni kaJohane, futhi ubani oyokwazi “ukuma”?
30 Yeka umbono omuhle la mazwi awembulayo kithi! UJehova ngokwakhe usesihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi, futhi zonke izinceku zakhe, ezasezulwini nezasemhlabeni, ziyahlangana ekumdumiseni. Izinceku zakhe zasemhlabeni ziyaqaphela ukuthi kuyilungelo elikhulu kangakanani ukuhlanganyela kule ngoma yokudumisa ephakamayo. Ngokushesha, uJehova noKristu Jesu bazokhipha isahlulelo, futhi kuyozwakala ukukhala: “Usuku olukhulu lolaka lwabo selufikile, futhi ubani okwaziyo ukuma na?” (IsAmbulo 6:17) Iyothini impendulo? Ingcosana kuphela yesintu, kuhlanganise nanoma obani kwabangu-144 000 ababekwe uphawu okungenzeka basasele enyameni kanye nesixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu ‘esiyokuma,’ okungukuthi, esiyosinda kanye nabo.—Jeremiya 35:19; 1 Korinte 16:13.
31. Ukugcwaliseka kombono kaJohane kufanele kuwathinte kanjani amaKristu, kokubili agcotshiwe nawesixuku esikhulu?
31 Ngokucabangela lokhu, amaKristu agcotshiwe esigaba sikaJohane ayazikhandla ‘ekuphishekeleni emgomweni ukuze athole umklomelo wobizo lwaphezulu lukaNkulunkulu ngoKristu Jesu.’ (Filipi 3:14) Aqaphela ngokugcwele ukuthi izenzakalo phakathi nalezi zinsuku zidinga abekezele ngokukhethekile. (IsAmbulo 13:10) Ngemva kokukhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka iminyaka eminingi kangaka, abambelela ngokuqinile okholweni, ethokoza ngokuthi amagama awo “alotshiwe ezulwini.” (Luka 10:20; IsAmbulo 3:5) Nalabo besixuku esikhulu bayazi ukuthi “lowo oye wakhuthazela kwaze kwaba sekupheleni nguye oyosindiswa.” (Mathewu 24:13) Lapho isixuku esikhulu njengeqembu siphawulelwa ukusinda osizini olukhulu, ngamunye kuso kumelwe azikhandle ukuze ahlale ehlanzekile futhi ekhuthele.
32. Isiphi isimo esiphuthumayo esiqokonyiswa yiqiniso lokuthi mabili kuphela amaqembu ‘ayokuma’ ngosuku lwentukuthelo kaJehova?
32 Abukho ubufakazi bokuthi abanye ngaphandle kwala maqembu amabili ‘bayokuma’ ngosuku lwentukuthelo kaJehova. Lokhu kusho ukuthini ngezigidi unyaka ngamunye ezibonisa inhlonipho ethile ngomhlatshelo kaJesu ngokuba khona ekugujweni kweSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe kodwa ezingakalubonisi ukholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu kuze kube sephuzwini lokuba izinceku zikaJehova ezizinikezele, ezibhapathiziwe, ezikhuthele enkonzweni yakhe? Ngaphezu kwalokho, kuthiwani ngalabo abake bakhuthala kodwa abaye bavumela izinhliziyo zabo ‘zisindwe izinkathazo zokuphila’? Kwangathi bonke abanjalo bangaphaphama, futhi bahlale bephapheme, ukuze ‘baphumelele ekuphunyukeni kuzo zonke lezi zinto ezimiselwe ukwenzeka, nasekumeni phambi kweNdodana yomuntu’—uJesu Kristu. Isikhathi sifushane!—Luka 21:34-36.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Bheka umbhalo waphansi we-New World Translation Reference Bible.
b INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-April 1, 1918, ikhasi 98.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 119]
Izincazelo EzikaNkulunkulu
Amashumi amaningi eminyaka isigaba sikaJohane siye safuna ukwazi ukuthi singobani isixuku esikhulu kodwa singayitholi incazelo eyanelisayo. Ngani? Impendulo siyithola emazwini kaJosefa othembekile, lapho ethi: “Izincazelo akuzona yini ezikaNkulunkulu?” (Genesise 40:8) UNkulunkulu ukuchaza nini futhi kanjani ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zakhe? Ngokuvamile kulapho sezizogcwaliseka, noma sezigcwaliseka, ukuze isigijimi sazo siqondwe ngokucacile izinceku zakhe ezifuna incazelo. Lokhu kuqonda kunikezwa ngenjongo ‘yokuba kufundiswe thina, ukuze kuthi ngokukhuthazela kwethu nangenduduzo evela emiBhalweni sibe nethemba.’—Roma 15:4.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 124]
Amalungu esixuku esikhulu
▪ avela kuzo zonke izizwe nabantu nezilimi
▪ ami phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaJehova
▪ ahlanzé izembatho zawo azenza zaba mhlophe egazini leWundlu
▪ adumisa uJehova noJesu ngensindiso
▪ aphuma osizini olukhulu
▪ akhonza uJehova ethempelini lakhe imini nobusuku
▪ athola isivikelo sothando nokunakekela kukaJehova
▪ aholelwa uJesu emithonjeni yamanzi okuphila
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 121]
[Isithombe ekhasini 127]
Isixuku esikhulu sibonga uNkulunkulu neWundlu ngensindiso
[Isithombe ekhasini 128]
IWundlu liyoholela isixuku esikhulu emithonjeni yamanzi okuphila