Izinsuku Zokugcina—Isikhathi Sokuvuna

“Ngase ngibona; bheka, nanto ifu elimhlophe, naphezu kwefu kuhlezi ofana nendodana yomuntu enomqhele wegolide ekhanda lakhe nasesandleni sakhe enesikela elibukhali.”—ISAMBULO 14:14.

 1. Yiziphi ezinye izinto eziye zenza lelikhulu leminyaka laba elivelele?

YEKA isikhathi sesiyaluyalu lelikhulu lama-20 leminyaka eliye laba yiso! Kuye kwadingeka ukuba isintu sibekezelele izimpi zezwe ezimbili zobudlova obukhulu. Amazwe ngamazwe aye agumbuqelwa ukuvukelwa kwemibuso. Indlala iye yabangela ukuhlupheka okwengeziwe kunanini emlandweni womuntu. Ukuntengantenga kwezomnotho, ubugebengu, ukungcola nezifo ezesabisayo kusongela inhlala-kahle yawo wonke umuntu. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, umuntu uye wathuthuka kakhulu ngokwesayensi. Uye wasebenzisa amandla eathomu futhi wahamba ngisho nasenyangeni. Ngempela, isizukulwane sethu siyinqaba ngezindlela eziningi. Noma kunjalo, yinye kuphela into eqhama njengesenzakalo esibaluleke kakhulu esikhathini sethu, futhi ngaphandle kwayo zonke ezinye izinto ziyafiphala zibe yize.

 2. Yisiphi isenzakalo esaprofethwa uDaniyeli esasizokwenzeka esikhathini sethu?

² Lesenzakalo esiqalisa inkathi entsha ngempela sabikezelwa emuva lé ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E. umprofethi uDaniyeli. Lalela umbiko wakhe ophefumlelwe ngokwaphezulu: “Ngabona emibonweni ebusuku; bheka, kwafika namafu ezulu onjengendodana yomuntu; yafika komdala wezinsuku, yasondezwa phambi kwakhe. Yanikwa ukubusa, nobukhosi, nombuso, ukuze bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi bayikhonze.”—Daniyeli 7:13, 14.

 3. (a) Ngubani “oMdala wezinsuku,” futhi kuyini lokho akunikeza “onjengendodana yomuntu”? (b) Ngubani lona “onjengendodana yomuntu,” futhi abaholi benkolo bamaJuda basabela kanjani lapho uJesu ebonakalisa lokhu?

³ “Omdala wezinsuku” uJehova uNkulunkulu. UDaniyeli umbona ‘esemafwini ezulu,’ okungukuthi, endaweni yomoya engabonakali, enikeza ubukhosi kothile “onjengendodana yomuntu.” Ngubani lowo “othile”? UJesu waphendula lowombuzo emuva ngo-33 C.E. lapho kuthethwa icala lakhe ngaphambi kweSanhedrin. Umpristi omkhulu wamaJuda wamfungisa ukuba asho uma ayenguKristu noma cha. Ekuphenduleni, uJesu wasebenzisa ngesibindi isiprofetho sikaDaniyeli kuye ngokwakhe, ethi: “Kusukela manje niyakubona iNdodana yomuntu ihlezi ngakwesokunene saMandla, iza emafwini ezulu.” Kunokuba akhothamele iNkosi ekhethiwe kaJehova, umpristi omkhulu wammangalela ngokuthi uhlambalaza uNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho, abaholi benkolo bamaJuda bacindezela uPontiyu Pilatu ukuba alahle uJesu ngecala lokufa.—Mathewu 26:63-65; 27:1, 2, 11-26.

 4. UJesu wawuthola nini umqhele wobukhosi, futhi naphezu kwakuphi ukuphikiswa?

⁴ Lomzamo wokubhuntshisa amazwi kaJesu wahluleka lapho evuswa kwabafileyo futhi enyukela ezulwini ukuze ayolindela isikhathi esifaneleyo sikaJehova sokumnikeza uMbuso. (IzEnzo 2:24, 33, 34; IHubo 110:1, 2) Lesosikhathi safika ngo-1914. Ngokuvumelana nabo bonke ubufakazi, engxenyeni yokugcina yalowonyaka, uJesu wemukela umqhele wobukhosi ovela “koMdala wezinsuku” futhi waqala ukubusa. (Mathewu 24:3-42) UMbuso owawusand’ ukuzalwa wabhekana nokuphikiswa okunzima. Kodwa abaholi benkolo bamaJuda bekhulu lokuqala, wonke amandla aqongelelwe ezizwe, futhi ngisho noSathane namademoni akhe abazange bakwazi ukuvimbela intando kaNkulunkulu ekubeni ifezeke. (IHubo 2:2, 4-6; IsAmbulo 12:1-12) Ngo-1914 abahlabeleli basezulwini bazwakala ngesikhathi esifanele bethi: “Umbuso wezwe usungoweNkosi yethu nokaKristu wayo; iyakubusa kuze kube-phakade naphakade.” (IsAmbulo 11:15) Kusukela ngalolosuku, besiphila “ezinsukwini zokugcina” zalesimiso esibi sezinto.—2 Thimothewu 3:1.

Isikhathi Sokuvuna

 5. (a) Ngokwesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli, obani ababezokhonza leNkosi eyayisand’ ukugcotshwa? (b) Yimuphi umbono uJohane awubona nawo owawuhilela uJesu njengeNkosi esand’ ukugcotshwa?

⁵ Ngokwesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli, lapho uJesu emukela umqhele wakhe “bonke abantu, nezizwe nezilimi babezomkhonza.” Lokho kungenzeka kanjani uma isintu sisonke simenqaba njengeNkosi? Umbono osadrama owembulelwa umphostoli uJohane unikeza impendulo. UJohane usitshela lokho akubona, uthi: “Bheka, nanto ifu elimhlophe, naphezu kwefu kuhlezi ofana nendodana yomuntu enomqhele wegolide ekhanda lakhe nasesandleni sakhe enesikela elibukhali.” (IsAmbulo 14:14) Ngokufanayo nombono kaDaniyeli, uJesu lapha ubonwa esefwini futhi ubonakaliswa njengothile “ofana nendodana yomuntu.” Uthwele umqhele wobukhosi, kodwa esandleni sakhe akayiphethe intonga yobukhosi kodwa isikela lomvuni. Kungani?

 6. Yimuphi umsebenzi uJehova ayala uJesu osand’ ukugcotshwa ukuba awenze?

⁶ UJohane uyaqhubeka: “Enye ingelosi yayisiphuma ethempelini, imemeza ngezwi elikhulu, ithi kohlezi phezu kwefu: Faka isikela lakho, uvune, ngokuba kufikile isikhathi sokuvuna, ngokuba sekomile okuvunwayo komhlaba.” Nakuba, uJesu eyiNkosi, usalalela iziyalezo ezivela kuJehova “ethempelini.” Ngakho lapho uJehova emyala ukuba enze umsebenzi wokuvuna phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina, uyalalela. UJesu “wayeseliphonsa isikela emhlabeni; wawusuvunwa umhlaba.”—IsAmbulo 14:15, 16; Heberu 9:24; 1 Korinte 11:3.

 7. (a) Kuyini “okuvunwayo komhlaba”? (b) Sasiyini isiqalo salokhu “kuvuna”?

⁷ Kuyini “okuvunwayo komhlaba”? Abantu abavela kulesimiso sikasathane sezinto ukuze bakhonze uJehova neNkosi yaKhe emisiwe. Ukuvuna kuqala ngokubuthwa kwabaseleyo bezi-144 000 abazobusa noJesu embusweni wakhe wasezulwini. (Mathewu 13:37-43) Laba banguIsrayeli kaNkulunkulu, “ulibo kuNkulunkulu nakulo iWundlu.” Baye bathengwa “kuyo yonke imindeni, nezilimi, nabantu, nezizwe.” (Galathiya 6:16; IsAmbulo 14:4; 5:9, 10) Ngalendlela, abantu ngabanye abavela kubo bonke “abantu, izizwe nezilimi” baqala ukukhonza uJesu obekwe esihlalweni sobukhosi.

 8. (a) Ngokusobala ukubuthwa kwabokugcina babagcotshiweyo cishe kwafinyelela isiphetho sakho ngamuphi unyaka? (b) Ngokomunye umbono kaJohane, umsebenzi wokuvuna waqhubeka kanjani?

⁸ Nokho, ababodwa. Komunye umbono, uJohane, ubona ukubekwa uphawu kwabokugcina bezi-144 000. (IsAmbulo 7:1-8) Ngokusobala, ukubuthwa kwalaba kwaphelela cishe ngo-1935. Kodwa nokho, uJohane uyabika, uthi ubona “isixuku esikhulu ebesingenakubalwa-muntu, sivela kuzo zonke izizwe, nemindeni, nabantu, nezilimi, simi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi naphambi kweWundlu.” (IsAmbulo 7:9-17) Ngakho umsebenzi wokuvuna uyaqhubeka njengoba abaningi ngokwengeziwe abavela “ebantwini, ezizweni nasezilimini” baqala ukukhonza uJesu njengeNkosi.

 9. Obani laba abasand’ ukufika, futhi yiziphi ezinye iziprofetho ezikhuluma ngokuvela kwabo phakathi “nezinsuku ezizayo”?

⁹ Laba abasand’ ukufika babheka phambili ekujabuleleni ukuphila epharadesi emhlabeni ngaphansi kweNkosi kaJehova emisiwe. (IHubo 37:11, 29; 72:7-9) Ukubuthwa kwabo kwabikezelwa kwezinye iziprofetho eziningi. Ngokwesibonelo, uIsaya wabikezela ukuthi “ngezinsuku ezizayo” izizwe zaziyogobhozela endlini kaJehova. (Isaya 2:2, 3) UHagayi waprofetha ngokuzanyazanyiswa kwezizwe okwakuyothi phakathi nakho “kufike okunxanelekayo kwabo bonke abezizwe.” (Hagayi 2:7) UZakariya wakhuluma “ngamadoda ayishumi azo zonke izilimi zabezizwe” ayezozihlanganisa nabantu bakaNkulunkulu. (Zakariya 8:23) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesu ngokwakhe waprofetha ‘ngalesixuku esikhulu.’ Wathi: “Nxa iNdodana yomuntu iza ngenkazimulo yayo nezingelosi zonke ezingcwele kanye nayo, khona izakuhlala esihlalweni sayo senkazimulo; kuzakubuthelwa phambi kwayo izizwe zonke, ibahlukanise abanye kwabanye, njengomalusi ahlukanisa izimvu nezimbuzi, imise izimvu ngakwesokunene sayo kepha izimbuzi ngakwesokhohlo.”—Mathewu 25:31-33.

10. (a) “Okuvunwayo komhlaba” kuvunwa ngayiphi indlela? (b) Obani kuphela ababambisana nezingelosi kulomsebenzi?

¹⁰ Yebo, sonke isintu siyahlolisiswa ukuze kubonwe ukuthi ngobani ‘abayizimvu’ futhi ngobani ‘abayizimbuzi.’ Lomsebenzi wokuhlola ufezwa kanjani? Embonweni kaJohane, “okuvunwayo komhlaba” kuvunwa ngesikhathi esifanayo nesokumenyezelwa kwezigijimi ezinamandla yizingelosi. Enye ingelosi imemezela isigijimi “sevangeli eliphakade”. Enye imemezela ukuwa ‘kweBabiloni Elikhulu.’ Futhi eyesithathu ixwayisa ngokukhulekela ‘isilo,’ isimiso sezinto sikaSathane sezombangazwe. (IsAmbulo 14:6-10) Yiqiniso, akekho oye wezwa amazwi angokoqobo alezingelosi. Kodwa baye bezwa izigijimi ezifana nawo zikhulunywa abantu abathembekile. (Mathewu 24:14; Isaya 48:20; Zakariya 2:7; Jakobe 1:27; 1 Johane 2:15-17) Ngakho, ngokusobala, izigijimi zisakazwa ngemilomo yabantu ngaphansi kokuqondisa kwezingelosi. Umuntu ubonakala ‘enjengemvu’ noma ‘imbuzi’ ngendlela asabela ngayo ezigijimini zezingelosi. Phakathi nalelikhulu lama-20 leminyaka, oFakazi BakaJehova kuphela abaye babambisana nezingelosi kulomsebenzi obalulekile.

11. Ukusakazwa kabanzi kwalezigijimi zezingelosi kubaluleke kangakanani?

¹¹ Ukusakazwa kwalezigijimi kuwumsebenzi ophuthuma ngaphezu kwanoma yini enye eyenziwa namuhla. Ayikho intuthuko yezombangazwe noma okusha okutholakele okungokwesayensi okuwulandelayo ngokubaluleka. Lezigijimi zikhomba indlela eya ekuxazululweni kwazo zonke izinkinga zesintu futhi zilandisa ngensindiso yaphakade yabantu abathembekile. Okubaluleke kakhulu futhi, ziphathelene nokungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova.

Umbiko Wonyaka

12, 13. Nikeza imininingwane ethile esembikweni wonyaka ebonisa ukuthi kakade “isivuno” esikhulu sesiye sabuthwa.

¹² Kungalesosizathu oFakazi BakaJehova unyaka ngamunye bebheka phambili ekufundeni umbiko wonyaka womsebenzi wenhlangano kaJehova. Bahlatshwa umxhwele ukubona ubufakazi obengeziwe besibusiso sakhe emsebenzini wabo. Uma uhlola umbiko ka-1987, okhishwe emakhasini 12 kuya ku-15 alomagazini, uzobona ukuthi izingelosi kanye nezisebenzi ezikanye nazo ezingabantu zazishiseka kakhulu ngonyaka odlule.

¹³ Izindaba ezinhle zazwiwa emazweni angama-210—ngokuqinisekile ‘imindeni yonke, nezizwe nezilimi’ ezitholakalayo manje. (Marku 13:10) Ngaphezu kwalokho, inani eliphakeme labayizi-3 395 612, lasebenza ndawonye ukuze lifeze lokho—ngokwengeziwe kunanini ngaphambili emlandweni wamaKristu. Lamanani ajabulisa ngisho nasemazweni athile angawodwa. EUnited States, kwafinyelelwa inani eliphakeme elisha labayizi-773 219. Amanye amazwe amabili, iBrazil neMexico, aba namanani aphakeme ayizi-216 216 nabayizi-222 168 ngokwehlukene; ayisithupha alandelayo, iBrithani, iJalimane, i-Italy, iJapane, iNigeria, nePhilippines, abika amanani aphakeme abangaphezu kwezi-100 000. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, kunamazwe anamanani amakhulu abantu nabamemezeli abayizinkulungwane ezimbalwa nje, noma ngaphansi kwalokho. Umsebenzi walemiphefumulo ethembekile nawo ungobaluleke kakhulu njengoba belwela ukuba bagcine ukukhanya kweqiniso kukhanya ngaphansi kwezimo ezinzima.—Mathewu 5:14-16.

14. Hlobo luni lwabantu ababuthelwa enhlanganweni kaJehova?

¹⁴ Yebo, abantu bakaNkulunkulu abathakazeleli nje kuphela ukwanda ngokwakho. Nokho, bayazi, ukuthi bonke laba abasha abagelezela enhlanganweni kaJehova ‘bayizinto ezinxanelekayo’ emehlweni kaJehova. Abaningi “babebubula bekhala ngazo zonke izinengiso” ababezibona kweLobukholwa. (Hezekeli 9:4) Bonke bagobhozela “entabeni kaJehova” ngoba bafuna ukufundiswa ngezindlela zikaNkulunkulu. (Isaya 2:2, 3) Yeka ubufakazi obunamandla besibusiso sikaJehova—ukuthi kulesimiso sezinto esonakele sokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo, amakhulu ezinkulungwane zabantu abasha unyaka ngamunye bazibonakalisa ‘beyizinto ezinxanelekayo’ zikaJehova!

Izikhathi Eziphuthumayo

15. (a) Inkulu kangakanani insimu okumelwe ihlanganiswe ngomsebenzi wokushumayela? (b) Ngokombono kaJohane, “isixuku esikhulu” sishiseka kangakanani?

¹⁵ Umsebenzi wokushumayela woFakazi BakaJehova uyaphuthuma. Ngani? Isizathu sokuqala siwukuthi, insimu inkulu. “Ivangeli” kumelwe limenyezelwe “ezizweni zonke, nemindeni, nezilimi, nabantu.” (IsAmbulo 14:6) Emfanekisweni kaJesu, abantu bazo “zonke izizwe” bahlukaniswa ‘njengezimvu’ ‘nezimbuzi.’ Kunomsebenzi omningi wokwenziwa. Yeka ukuthi kufaneleka kanjani-ke, ukuthi “isixuku esikhulu” esabonwa uJohane sidumisa uNkulunkulu “imini nobusuku ethempelini lakhe.” (IsAmbulo 7:15) Ekugcwalisekeni kwalombono, ‘lesixuku esikhulu,’ sisebenza ngokubambisana nabafowabo abagcotshiwe, sibike ukuthi sisebenzise ingqikithi yamahora ayizi-739 019 286 emsebenzini wokushumayela ngonyaka odlule—inani elikhulu kakhulu ukuba ungaliqonda. Emhlabeni wonke, lokhu kwamelela isilinganiso samahora angaphezu kwayi-18 ngenyanga ummemezeli ngamunye. Siqhathanise nesilinganiso samahora ayi-12 ngenyanga eminyakeni eyishumi edlule, futhi uzobona ukuthi ijubane lomsebenzi wokushumayela liyanda. Isilinganiso sakho siqu siqhathaniseka kanjani nesilinganiso somhlaba wonke?

16. (a) Iyiphi indlela enhle kakhulu “yokushumayela izwi uqinise”? (b) Bangaki abahlanganyela kulomsebenzi ngonyaka odlule?

¹⁶ Phawula, futhi, inani eliphakeme elisha lamaphayona asizayo navamile: 650 095. Lokhu kusho ukuthi kwakunamaphayona engeziwe ensimini ngonyaka odlule angaphezu kwabamemezeli ababekhona ngo-1955. Ingabe wawungomunye walawo maphayona? Uma kunjalo, uye wathola indlela enhle kakhulu yokusebenzisa ngokomuntu siqu iseluleko sikaPawulu esithi: “Shumayela izwi, uqinise.” (2 Thimothewu 4:2) Kungani ungahleli ukuba uhlanganyele enkonzweni yamaphayona okungenani inyanga eyodwa phakathi nonyaka wenkonzo ka-1988?

Amathemba Okukhula Okwengeziwe

17. Imaphi amalungiselelo abonisa ukuthi ithemba lokwanda esikhathini esizayo lihle?

¹⁷ Ithemba lokukhula kwesikhathi esizayo lingelihle ngempela. Inani lezifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya laliyizi-3 005 048—futhi umfundi ngamunye weBhayibheli kunokwenzeka ukuba abe ‘okunxanelekayo kukaJehova’! Ngaphezu kwalokho, abayizi-8 965 221 baba khona emkhosini weSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa ngoApril wangonyaka odlule. Iningi lalabo ababa khona lalingebona oFakazi BakaJehova. Abanye babengabantu ababesand’ ukubonisa isithakazelo. Baye bemukelwa ngokufudumele futhi bakhuthazwa ukuba baqhubeke bethuthuka kahle. Abanye kunokwenzeka baye baba khona izikhathi eziningi emkhosini onjalo ngaphambili. Ngokusobala bayakujabulela ukuba noFakazi BakaJehova kodwa okwamanje abakasiboni isidingo sokwenza okwengeziwe kunalokho.

18. Ngokweziprofetho zikaJesu noZakariya, yini okumelwe umuntu ayenze ukuze abalwe njengomunye “wezimvu” zikaJehova?

¹⁸ Abanjalo kumelwe batuswe ngesithakazelo sabo eqinisweni leBhayibheli. Kodwa, khumbula, emfanekisweni kaJesu “izimvu” eziya ekuphileni okuphakade yilabo abazibonisa bewusizo kubafowabo bakaJesu abagcotshiwe futhi bebambisana nabo. (Mathewu 25:34-40, 46) Esiprofethweni sikaZakariya, inani eliphelele “lamadoda ayishumi” lisho ngokungagodli ukuthi: “Siyakuhamba nani, ngokuba sizwile ukuthi uNkulunkulu unani.” (Zakariya 8:23) Abamane-nje babonise isimo sobungane kuphela. “Babambelela” kubantu bakaNkulunkulu futhi bahambe nabo, bezinikezela ukuze bakhonze uNkulunkulu walabantu. Osukwini lwethu, lokhu kuhlanganisa ukuba ngohileleke ngokugcwele enhlanganweni kaJehova.

Esikhathini Esingekude

19, 20. (a) Ngokombono kaJohane, yini eyokwenzeka lapho umsebenzi wokubutha “okuvunwayo komhlaba” usuphelile? (b) Lokho kuyosho ukuthini ngabo bonke abangazange bazithobe kuJesu njengeNkosi?

¹⁹ Umsebenzi wokuvuna uyaphuthuma ngenxa yesizathu sesibili. Ngokushesha uzoqedwa. (Mathewu 24:32-34) Khona-ke yini eyokwenzeka? Funda ukuthi kube sekwenzekani embonweni kaJohane: “Enye ingelosi yayisiphuma ethempelini elisezulwini, nayo inesikela elibukhali. Nenye ingelosi futhi yaphuma ealtare, inamandla phezu komlilo, yamemeza ngezwi elikhulu kuyo ebinesikela elibukhali, ithi: Faka isikela lakho elibukhali, ubuthe amahlukuzo omvini womhlaba, ngokuba izithelo zomvini zivuthiwe. Ingelosi yayisiliphonsa isikela layo emhlabeni, yawuvuna umvini womhlaba, yawuphonsa esikhamweni sewayini solaka lukaNkulunkulu.”—IsAmbulo 14:17-19.

²⁰ Ngemva kokuba isivuno “sezinto ezinxanelekayo” sesibuthiwe, kuyobe kungasekho sizathu sokuba lelizwe elidala elonakele liqhubeke likhona. “Umvini womhlaba,” sonke lesimiso sezwe sezinto sikasathane, uyonqunywa futhi ubhujiswe. Ngalesosikhathi, ngisho nabaphikisi bayophoqelelwa ukuba baqaphele iNkosi kaJehova emisiwe. UJohane wabhala: “Bhekani [uJesu] uyeza namafu, namehlo onke ayakumbona, nabo abamgwazayo, nezizwe zonke zomhlaba ziyakulila ngaye.” (IsAmbulo 1:7; Mathewu 24:30) Khona-ke amazwi kaJesu awasho kubaholi benkolo bamaJuda, ababengabavelele kulabo “abamgwazayo,” ayogcwaliseka. (Mathewu 26:64) Yiqiniso, labo bazenzisi benkolo ngeke bavuswe kwabafileyo ukuze ‘bambone’ ngokwabo uJesu. (Mathewu 23:33) Kodwa bonke labo namuhla ababonisa lowomoya futhi abenqaba ukwamukela iNkosi kaJehova emisiwe bayophoqeleka ukuba bamqaphele lapho ezobhubhisa izizwe eHarmagedoni.—IsAmbulo 19:11-16, 19-21.

21. Kungani kumelwe abantu bakaNkulunkulu basebenze kanzima ekubambisaneni nezingelosi zasezulwini?

²¹ Ngempela, ukuphila kwabantu ngabanye kusengozini. Ngokuba izisebenzi ezikanye nezingelosi sinomthwalo wemfanelo onzima. Kodwa yeka ilungelo elikhulu kangaka! Sengathi singaqhubeka sisebenza kanzima ekubambisaneni nezingelosi zasezulwini njengoba silwela ukuthola bonke abanjengezimvu, “izinto ezinxanelekayo” zikaJehova, ngaphambi kokuba umsebenzi wokuvuna uphele.

Ingabe Ungachaza?

◻ Kuze kube manje, yisiphi isenzakalo esikhulu kulelikhulu lama-20 leminyaka?

◻ Kuyini “okuvunwayo komhlaba,” futhi kubuthwa kanjani?

◻ Yiziphi ezinye zezici ezihlukanisayo “zezimvu” zikaJehova?

◻ Umbiko wonyaka usibonisa kanjani isibusiso sikaJehova emsebenzini wokuvuna?

◻ Kungani umsebenzi wokuvuna uphuthuma?

[Ishadi ekhasini 4-7]

UMBIKO WONYAKA WENKONZO KA-1987 WOFAKAZI BAKAJEHOVA EMHLABENI WONKE

(Bheka umqulu)