Isahluko Samashumi Amabili
Lukhumbule Njalo Usuku LukaJehova
1. Lapho uqala ukuzwa ukuthi ukukhululwa ezinhlungwini zalesi simiso esidala kusondele, wazizwa kanjani?
ENYE yezinto zokuqala owazifunda eBhayibhelini kwaba ukuthi injongo kaJehova iwukuba umhlaba wonke ube ipharadesi. Kulelo zwe elisha, impi, ubugebengu, ubumpofu, ukugula, ukuhlupheka, nokufa ngeke kuphinde kube khona. Ngisho nabafileyo bayobuye baphile. Yeka amathemba amahle! Ukuthi sekuseduze ukuba kugcwaliseke zonke lezi zinto kugcizelelwa ubufakazi bokuthi ukuba khona kukaKristu okungabonakali njengeNkosi ebusayo kwaqala ngo-1914, nokuthi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi besilokhu sisezinsukwini zokugcina zaleli zwe elibi. Ekupheleni kwalezi zinsuku zokugcina, uJehova uyobhubhisa lesi simiso samanje sezinto futhi alethe izwe elisha alithembisile!
2. Luyini “usuku lukaJehova”?
2 IBhayibheli libiza lesi sikhathi esizayo sembubhiso ngokuthi “usuku lukaJehova.” (2 Petru 3:10) ‘Luwusuku lolaka lukaJehova’ oluyovuthela lonke izwe likaSathane. (Zefaniya 2:3) Lufinyelela umvuthwandaba walo “empini yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke . . . , ngesiHeberu ebizwa ngokuthi iHar-magedoni [i-Armagedoni],” okuyobhujiswa kuyo ‘amakhosi omhlaba wonke owakhiwe.’ (IsAmbulo 16:14, 16) Ingabe indlela yakho yokuphila ibonisa ukuthi uyaqiniseka ukuthi lolu ‘suku lukaJehova’ luseduze?—Zefaniya 1:14-18; Jeremiya 25:33.
3. (a) Luyofika nini usuku lukaJehova? (b) Kuye kwazuzisa ngani ukungalwembuli kukaJehova ‘lolo suku noma ihora’?
3 IBhayibheli alisitsheli ngokuthé ngqo usuku uJesu Kristu ayofika ngalo njengoMkhiphi Wesahlulelo omiswe nguJehova ezokwahlulela lesi simiso sezinto sikaSathane. UJesu wathi: “Ngokuphathelene nalolosuku noma ihora akekho owaziyo, nazingelosi ezulwini naNdodana, ngaphandle kukaBaba.” (Marku 13:32) Uma abantu bengamthandi ngempela uJehova, bayothambekela ekuluhlehliseni usuku lwakhe ezingqondweni zabo futhi baphendukele eminakweni yezwe. Kodwa labo abamthanda ngempela uJehova bayomkhonza ngomphefumulo wonke, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sifika nini isiphelo salesi simiso sezinto.—IHubo 37:4; 1 Johane 5:3.
4. UJesu waxwayisa wathini?
4 Exwayisa labo abathanda uJehova, uJesu uthi: “Hlalani nibhekile, nihlale niphapheme, ngoba anazi ukuthi sinini isikhathi esimisiwe.” (Marku 13:33-37) Usinxusa ukuba singavumeli ukudla nokuphuza noma “izinkathazo zokuphila” zisixine kangangokuba sikhohlwe ubucayi bezikhathi.—Luka 21:34-36; Mathewu 24:37-42.
5. Njengoba uPetru achaza, usuku lukaJehova luyolethani?
5 Ngokufanayo noPetru useluleka ukuba sikukhumbule njalo “ukuba khona kosuku lukaJehova, okuyothi ngalo amazulu njengoba eyobe esha ancibilike nezinto zawo njengoba ziyobe zishisa kakhulu zincibilike.” Bonke ohulumeni babantu—“amazulu”—bayobhujiswa, njengoba kuyoba njalo nangawo wonke umphakathi wabantu omubi—“umhlaba”—“nezinto zawo,” imibono nemisebenzi yaleli zwe elibi, njengesimo salo sengqondo sokungafuni ukubuswa nguNkulunkulu nendlela yalo yokuphila yokuziphatha okubi nokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo. Kuyothathelwa indawo “amazulu amasha [uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini] nomhlaba omusha [umphakathi omusha wasemhlabeni]” lapho ‘kuyohlala khona ukulunga.’ (2 Petru 3:10-13) Lezi zenzakalo ezinyakazisa umhlaba ziyoqala kungazelelwe ngosuku nangehora elingalindelekile.—Mathewu 24:44.
Hlala Uqaphele Isibonakaliso
6. (a) Impendulo kaJesu yombuzo wabafundi bakhe yasebenza ngezinga elingakanani ekupheleni kwesimiso sobuJuda? (b) Yiziphi izingxenye zempendulo kaJesu ezigxile ezenzakalweni nasezimweni zengqondo ezisukela ku-1914 kuqhubeke?
6 Ngenxa yezikhathi esiphila kuzo, kufanele siyazi kahle imininingwane yesibonakaliso esiyinhlanganisela sezinsuku zokugcina—‘isiphelo sesimiso sezinto.’ Khumbula ukuthi lapho uJesu ephendula umbuzo wabafundi bakhe, olotshwe kuMathewu 24:3, okunye kwalokho akuchaza emavesini 4 kuya ku-22 kwagcwaliseka ngezinga elincane esimisweni sobuJuda phakathi kuka-33 no-70 C.E. Kodwa lesi siprofetho sigcwaliseka kakhulu enkathini esukela ku-1914, isikhathi ‘sokuba khona kukaKristu nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto.’ UMathewu 24:23-28 ulandisa ngalokho okwakuyokwenzeka kusukela ngo-70 C.E. kuze kube sesikhathini sokuba khona kukaKristu. Izenzakalo ezichazwe kuMathewu 24:29–25:46 zenzeka esikhathini sokuphela.
7. (a) Kungani ngabanye kufanele sihlale siqaphele indlela izimo ezikhona manje ezisigcwalisa ngayo isibonakaliso? (b) Phendula imibuzo esekugcineni kwalesi sigaba, ubonise indlela isibonakaliso esiye sagcwaliseka ngayo kusukela ngo-1914.
7 Ngabanye, kufanele sihlale siqaphele izenzakalo nezimo zengqondo ezigcwalisa isibonakaliso. Ukuhlobanisa lezi zinto nesiprofetho seBhayibheli kuyosisiza ukuba silukhumbule njalo usuku lukaJehova. Kuyosisiza nokuba sibe nethonya lapho sixwayisa abanye ngokuba seduze kwalolo suku. (Isaya 61:1, 2) Sicabanga ngale migomo, masibukeze imibuzo elandelayo eqokomisa izingxenye zalesi sibonakaliso, esilotshwe kuMathewu 24:7 nakuLuka 21:10, 11.
Kusukela ngo-1914 ‘ukuvukelana kwezizwe nokuvukelana kwemibuso’ okwabikezelwa kwagcwaliseka kanjani ngendlela evelele? Kuye kwenzekani kusukela ngaleso sikhathi ngokuphathelene nezimpi?
Ngo-1918, yisiphi isifo esiwumshayabhuqe esabulala abantu abaningi kuneMpi Yezwe I? Naphezu kolwazi lomuntu lwezokwelapha, yiziphi izifo ezisabulala izigidi?
Naphezu kwentuthuko yesayensi, ukuswelakala kokudla kuye kwawuthinta ngezinga elingakanani umhlaba ekhulwini elidlule leminyaka?
Yini ekwenza uqiniseke ukuthi eyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:1-5, 13 ayichazi indlela yokuphila ebilokhu ikhona, kodwa ichaza indlela izimo ezimbi eziye zabhebhetheka ngayo njengoba sibheke ekupheleni kwezinsuku zokugcina?
Ukuhlukaniswa Kwabantu
8. (a) Yikuphi okunye, okuchazwe kuMathewu 13:24-30, 36-43, uJesu akuhlanganisa nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto? (b) Umfanekiso kaJesu usho ukuthini?
8 Kunezinye izenzakalo eziphawulekayo uJesu azihlanganisa nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto. Esinye sazo ukuhlukaniswa ‘kwamadodana ombuso emadodaneni omubi.’ UJesu wakhuluma ngalokhu emfanekisweni wakhe wensimu kakolweni isitha esayihlwanyela ngokhula. “Ukolweni” kulo mfanekiso wakhe umelela amaKristu agcotshiwe eqiniso. “Ukhula” yilabo abathi bangamaKristu kodwa abazibonakalisa ‘bengamadodana omubi’ ngoba banamathela kuleli zwe elibuswa uDeveli. Laba bahlukaniswa ‘emadodaneni ombuso [kaNkulunkulu]’ futhi baphawulelwa ukubhujiswa. (Mathewu 13:24-30, 36-43) Ingabe lokhu kuye kwenzeka ngempela?
9. (a) Ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, yikuphi ukuhlukaniswa okukhulu okwenzeka kwalabo abathi bangamaKristu? (b) AmaKristu agcotshiwe abunikeza kanjani ubufakazi bokuthi ayizikhonzi zeqiniso zoMbuso?
9 Ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, bonke ababethi bangamaKristu bahlukaniswa baba izigaba ezimbili: (1) Abefundisi beLobukholwa nabalandeli babo, abaphumela obala basekela iNhlangano Yezizwe (manje eyiZizwe Ezihlangene) kuyilapho bebambelele ekubeni qotho ebuzweni babo, kanye (2) namaKristu eqiniso aleyo nkathi yangemva kwempi, lawo asekela ngokugcwele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngoMesiya, hhayi izizwe zaleli zwe. (Johane 17:16) La maKristu azibonakalisa eyizikhonzi zeqiniso zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngokwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela ‘izindaba ezinhle zombuso’ emhlabeni wonke. (Mathewu 24:14) Yaba yini imiphumela?
10. Waba yini umphumela womsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso?
10 Okokuqala, kwaqoqwa insali yalabo abagcotshwe ngomoya kaNkulunkulu, abanethemba lokuba noKristu njengengxenye yoMbuso wasezulwini. Nakuba babehlakazeke phakathi kwezizwe, bakha inhlangano enobunye. Ukubekwa uphawu kokugcina kwalaba abagcotshiwe kuyasondela.—IsAmbulo 7:3, 4.
11. (a) Yimuphi umsebenzi wokuqoqa oqhubekayo, futhi uvumelana nasiphi isiprofetho? (b) Ukugcwaliseka kwalesi siprofetho kubonisani?
11 Khona-ke, ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaKristu, kwaqala ukuqoqwa ‘kwesixuku esikhulu esiphuma kuzo zonke izizwe nabantu nezilimi.’ Laba bakha isigaba ‘sezinye izimvu’ eziyosinda “osizini olukhulu” zingene ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu. (IsAmbulo 7:9, 14; Johane 10:16) Lo msebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngaphambi kokufika kwesiphelo uyaqhubeka kuze kube sesikhathini samanje. Isixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu, manje esibalelwa ezigidini, ngokwethembeka sisiza insali egcotshiwe ekumemezeleni isigijimi soMbuso esibalulekile. Lesi sigijimi simenyezelwa kuzo zonke izizwe.
Ikusasa Lisiphatheleni?
12. Ungakanani umsebenzi wokushumayela okusamelwe wenziwe ngaphambi kokuba kufike usuku lukaJehova?
12 Konke lokhu okungenhla kubonisa ukuthi sisondele ekupheleni kwezinsuku zokugcina nokuthi usuku lukaJehova luseduze kakhulu. Kodwa, zikhona yini ezinye iziprofetho okusamelwe zigcwaliseke ngaphambi kokuqala kwalolo suku olwesabekayo? Yebo. Phakathi kokunye, ukuhlukaniswa kwabantu ngesisekelo sempikiswano yoMbuso akukapheli. Kwezinye izindawo lapho ukuphikiswa kwakushube khona iminyaka eminingi, manje kunokwanda kwabafundi abasha. Ngisho nalapho abantu bezenqaba khona izindaba ezinhle, ukufakaza kwethu kubonakalisa isihe sikaJehova. Ngakho, phambili nomsebenzi! UJesu usiqinisekisa ngokuthi lapho umsebenzi usuphelile, isiphelo siyofika.
13. Njengoba kulotshwe kweyoku-1 Thesalonika 5:2, 3, yisiphi isenzakalo esiphawulekayo esisazokwenzeka, futhi siyosho ukuthini kithi?
13 Esinye isiprofetho seBhayibheli esibaluleke kakhulu sibikezela lokhu: “Noma nini lapho bethi khona: ‘Ukuthula nokulondeka!’ khona-ke imbubhiso engazelelwe iyofika ngaso lesosikhathi phezu kwabo njengomhelo wokucindezeleka phezu kowesifazane okhulelweyo; futhi abasoze baphunyuka nganoma iyiphi indlela.” (1 Thesalonika 5:2, 3) Ukuthi lesi simemezelo ‘sokuthula nokulondeka’ siyoba nhloboni kusazobonakala. Kodwa ngokuqinisekile ngeke sisho ukuthi abaholi bomhlaba sebezixazulule ngempela izinkinga zesintu. Labo abalukhumbula njalo usuku lukaJehova ngeke badukiswe yileso simemezelo. Bayazi ukuthi ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, kuyofika imbubhiso engazelelwe.
14. Yiziphi izenzakalo eziyokwenzeka phakathi nosizi olukhulu, ziyolandelana ngaluphi uhlelo?
14 Ekuqaleni kosizi olukhulu, ababusi bayophendukela iBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, balibhubhise. (Mathewu 24:21; IsAmbulo 17:15, 16) Ngemva kwalokho, izizwe ziyophendukela labo abasekela ubukhosi bukaJehova, zivuse ulaka lukaJehova ukuba luvuthele ohulumeni bezombangazwe nabasekeli babo, okuyophumela ekubhujisweni kwabo okuphelele. Lokho kuyoba umvuthwandaba wosizi olukhulu e-Armagedoni. Khona-ke, uSathane namademoni akhe bayophonswa kwalasha, bangabe besakwazi ukuthonya isintu. Lokhu kuyophetha usuku lukaJehova lapho igama lakhe liyophakanyiswa khona.—Hezekeli 38:18, 22, 23; IsAmbulo 19:11–20:3.
15. Kungani kungaba ubuwula ukucabanga ukuthi usuku lukaJehova lusekude?
15 Isiphelo salesi simiso sezinto siyofika ngesikhathi esinqunyiwe, ngokwesimiso sikaNkulunkulu. Ngeke sephuze. (Habakuki 2:3) Khumbula, ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-70 C.E. kwafika ngokushesha, ngesikhathi amaJuda ayengakulindele ngaso, lapho ayecabanga ukuthi selidume ladlula. Kuthiwani ngeBabiloni lasendulo? Lalingumuzi onamandla, ozethembayo futhi uvikelwe ngezindonga ezinkulu. Kodwa lawa ngobusuku obubodwa. Kanjalo, nalesi simiso esibi samanje siyofikelwa imbubhiso esheshayo. Lapho ifika, kwangathi singatholakala sinobunye ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso, silukhumbule njalo usuku lukaJehova.
Ingxoxo Yokubukeza
• Kungani kubalulekile ukulukhumbula njalo usuku lukaJehova? Singakwenza kanjani lokho?
• Thina ngabanye sithinteka kanjani ekuhlukanisweni kwabantu okwenzekayo?
• Yini esazokwenzeka ngaphambi kokuba usuku lukaJehova luqale? Ngakho, yini okufanele ngabe siyayenza?
[Izithombe ekhasini 180, 181]
Ngokushesha izinsuku zokugcina zizophela lapho kubhujiswa isimiso sikaSathane