Izigidi Zilungela Ukuphila Okunganqamukiyo Emhlabeni
1. (a) Imaphi amazwi kaJesu kuMarta waseBethayina manje okuyisikhathi esihle kakhulu ngezigidi ukuwakhumbula? (b) Iyiphi ingxenye yalawomazwi evusa amadlingozi ezigidini manje, futhi ngani?
NGEZIGIDI eziphila manje kungaba isikhathi esihle kakhulu ukukhumbula amazwi kaJesu Kristu kuMarta waseBethaniya: “Mina ngingukuvuka nokuphila; okholwa yimi, noma efa, wophila. Nalowo ophila, akholwe yimi, kasoze afa naphakade.” (Johane 11:25, 26) Ngempela kuvusa amadlingozi ngalezozigidi ezifuna ukuphila okungapheliyo ezweni elilungileyo ukuqonda ukuthi amazwi kaJesu asebenza manje uma ethi: “Nalowo ophila, akholwe yimi, kasoze afa naphakade.”
2. (a) Lapho esemhlabeni, uJesu ‘wayengukuvuka’ kubaphi abantu? (b) Emazwini akhe kuMarta, kukusiphi isikhathi ngokuqondile uJesu ayekhomba kuso, futhi kungani kuyofuneka ukuba abe “ukuphila” ngisho nasezigidini eziyobe ziphila ngalesosikhathi?
2 Ngisho nalapho esesemhlabeni, uJesu ‘wayengukuvuka’ kuLazaru nakwabanye abantu abavusa. Kepha lamazwi akhe, akhulunywa ngaphambi nje kokuba avuse uLazaru, ayebhekisela esikhathini esizayo esasikude kakhulu ngalesosikhathi. UJesu wakhomba phambili esikhathini lapho ayeyokuba ukuvuka nokuphila hhayi nje kuphela kubalandeli bakhe ababeyokuba izindlalifa kanye naye eMbusweni wasezulwini kodwa futhi nasesintwini esifileyo esasiyothola ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni wethu ngaphansi koMbuso wakhe. Ngisho nakulabo ababeyobe bephila emhlabeni ngesikhathi soMbuso wakhe futhi abangeke badinge ukuvuswa ethuneni lasemhlabeni, uJesu uyodinga ukuba “ukuphila.” Ngani? Ngoba bayobe besengaphansi kokulahlelwa ekufeni ngenxa yesono sabo abasizuza ngefa kuAdamu ongalaleli. Ngakho bayobe besesesimweni sokufa.—Roma 5:12.
3. Kungenxa yokusetshenziswa kwayiphi imfanelo uJesu Kristu eba “ukuphila” kubantu abaphila manje, futhi isetshenziswa kanjani lemfanelo namuhla?
3 Kubantu abaphila manje emhlabeni, iNkosi ebusayo uJesu Kristu iba “ukuphila” ngenxa yeqiniso lokuthi banokholo kuyo, lolukholo belubonakalisa ngemisebenzi. Phakathi ‘nalesisiphelo sesimiso sezinto,’ lemisebenzi ibiyohlanganisa ukuba nengxenye ekhuthele ekugcwaliseni isiprofetho sikaJesu kuMathewu 24:14 ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngaphambi kokuba “ukuphela” kwesimiso sezinto kufike. (Mathewu 24:3; Marku 13:3, 4, NW) Labo abanokholo abasindayo ekupheleni kwesimiso sezinto samanje futhi ababheke phambili ekuphileni ePharadesi elibuyiselwe ngeke basadinga ukufa naphakade. (1 Johane 2:17) ‘Bayobuyela ezinsukwini zobusha babo,’ yebo, emuva ekupheleleni kobuntu okunjengalokho umuntu wokuqala, uAdamu ayenakho. Sinesizathu sokukholelwa ukuthi namuhla kunezigidi zabantu abanjalo abaphilayo abangase bathole ukuphila okungenakuphela bangafi emhlabeni.
4. (a) Isiprofetho sikaJesu sikhomba kanjani esisekelweni sokujabulela kwabantu ukuphila okungenakuphela bangafi emhlabeni? (b) Iyiphi “inyama” eyosindiswa ingene esimisweni esisha sezinto?
4 UJesu wanikeza isisekelo sethemba elinjalo lapho enikeza isiprofetho sakhe ngokuphathelene nesikhathi senkathazo esingenakulinganiswa leso “isiphelo sesimiso sezinto” esasiyophela ngaso. Wathi: “Ngokuba lapho kuyakuba-khona usizi olukhulu olungazange lube-khona kwasekuqaleni kwezwe kuze kube-manje nolungasayikuba-khona. Uma lezozinsuku zingafinyezwanga, bekungesindiswe-muntu [inyama, NW]; kepha ngenxa yabakhethiweyo lezozinsuku ziyakufinyezwa.” (Mathewu 24:21, 22) Ngakho izinsuku “zosizi olukhulu” ziyofinyezwa, futhi, ngokufanelekile, abantu abathile ‘abayinyama’ bayosindiswa bangene esimisweni esisha sezinto. Inyama enjalo kuyoba ikakhulu eyabanye ngaphandle ‘kwabakhethiweyo’ abayobe besesemhlabeni ngalesosikhathi belindele ukukhazinyuliswa kwabo eMbusweni wasezulwini noJesu Kristu. Ekusindeni osizini olukhulu, inyama enjalo ‘esindisiwe’ iyongena esimisweni esisha sezinto ngaphansi kokubusa kwalowo oyoba uBaba wabo waPhakade.—Mathewu 24:31; Marku 13:20, 22, 27; IsAmbulo 17:14; Isaya 9:6, 7
Ingozi Ephakanyiswa Isilo Sasendle
5. Yini eyabonwa iphethwe iWundlu elisesihlalweni sobukhosi, futhi amagama obani angalotshwanga embhalweni?
5 Elikabani igama eyotholakala lilotshwe “encwadini yokuphila” okukhulunywa ngayo kusAmbulo 17:8? Ingabe elakho? Elami? Ukuze lizwakalise kithi lesosixwayiso esifike ngesikhathi, lelovesi lithi: “Isilo owasibonayo [Johane] sasikhona, asisekho; kepha sesizakwenyuka, siphuma kwalasha, siye ekubhujisweni; nabakhileyo emhlabeni bayakumangala, labo abamagama abo angalotshwanga encwadini yokuphila, selokhu kwasekelwa izwe, nxa bebona isilo ukuthi sasikhona, kepha asisekho, kanti sizakuba-khona.”
6. (a) “Isilo” esingokomfanekiso sehlela nini kwalasha, futhi sakhuphuka ngasiphi isimo? (b) Iyiphi inkambo eyingozi edinga ukugwenywa?
6 ‘Lesosilo’ esingokomfanekiso okokuqala sasaziwa njengeNhlangano yeZizwe. Sehlela kwalasha emgodini wokungasebenzi phakathi neMpi Yezwe II yeminyaka yawo-1939-45 futhi sakhuphuka kwalasha ngesimo seZizwe Ezihlangene ngemva kwaleyompi. Ngakho kusukela ngo-1945 kukhona isimo esiyingozi esingase sithinte ofuna ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni oyiPharadesi. Angase akhohlisekele ekuthatheni inkambo eyomenza angakufanelekeli ukuba igama lakhe lilotshwe “encwadini yokuphila.” Ngakho-ke, manje sidinga ukusebenzisa “ingqondo enokuhlakanipha” esimweni sethu ‘ngasesilweni’ esingokomfanekiso.—IsAmbulo 17:9.
7. (a) Isilo esibomvu sasendle sesAmbulo isahluko 17 sibizwa ngokuthi siyini kusAmbulo isahluko 13? (b) Kungayiphi indlela “umfanekiso wesilo” ofana ngayo nesilo sokuqala sasendle, futhi amakhanda aso ayisikhombisa amelelani?
7 ‘Lesisilo’ esingokomfanekiso sesAmbulo isahluko 17, esichazwa njengesibomvu, ngempela sisefana nesilo sokuqala okukhulunywa ngaso kusAmbulo isahluko 13. Lesisilo sasendle esibomvu sibonakala siyilokho okubizwa ngokuthi “umfanekiso wesilo.” (IsAmbulo 17:3; 13:14-18) Njengomanduleli wawo, ‘lomfanekiso wesilo’ unamakhanda ayisikhombisa, abhekisela ‘emakhosini ayisikhombisa.’ “Amakhosi” amahlanu angokomfanekiso ayesewile afanekisela imibuso yezwe owaseGibithe, owaseAsiriya, owaseBabiloni, owaMamede namaPheresiya noMbuso wamaGreki owawumiswe uAlexander oMkhulu. “Inkosi” yesithupha kwakuwuMbuso wamaRoma wosuku lomphostoli uJohane. “Inkosi” yesikhombisa eyayizokuza ngemva kwesikhathi sikaJohane ngokomlando iye yabonakala iwuMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi namaMelika. Futhi “inkosi” yesishiyagalombili, isilo sasendle esibomvu, ‘njengomfanekiso’ wesilo sasendle sokuqala, yabonakala okokuqala njengeNhlangano yeZizwe.—IsAmbulo 17:9-14.
8. (a) Yini emelelwa “izimpondo eziyishumi” zesilo? (b) “Izimpondo eziyishumi” ziyobusa isikhathi eside kangakanani njengamakhosi nesilo sasendle esingokomfanekiso, futhi kuyokwenzekani kulabo abamangala ngokusijabulela lesisilo?
8 Ngokuphathelene ‘nezimpondo eziyishumi’ ezisemakhanda ayisikhombisa esilo esibomvu sasendle, zichazwa njengezisho “amakhosi ayishumi,” okungukuthi, konke ukubusa kwezombangazwe okumelelwe enhlangaweni yeZizwe Ezihlangene. ‘Lamakhosi’ ayojabulela udumo lwezwe noma igunya isikhathi esifushane nje kuphela, njengokungathi, “ihora linye.” Lokho kusho futhi isikhathi esifushane sokuphila ngabo bonke abababaza ngokujabulela “umfanekiso wesilo” ovusiwe futhi bewusekela. Abanjalo amagama abo awalotshiwe “encwadini yokuphila.” Ngakho labo abangafuni ukufa emhlabeni wethu ngeke bazibandakanye nabo ekukhulekeleni “umfanekiso wesilo.”
9. Iyiphi impi manje esiphakiwe, futhi uyoba yini umphumela walempi?
9 Manje sekuphakwa impi. “Izimpondo eziyishumi” sezilungele ukuhlasela. IsAmbulo 17:14 sithi: “Ayakulwa neWundlu, neWundlu liyakuwanqoba, ngokuba liyiNkosi yamakhosi noMbusi wababusi, nabakanye nalo, ababiziweyo, nabakhethiweyo, nabathembekileyo.” Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi insali esaphila emhlabeni yabanjalo ababiziweyo, abakhethiweyo nabathembekile iyobhekana nokuhlaselwa “izimpondo ziyishumi.” Nokho, ‘lezizimpondo eziyishumi’ ziyonqotshwa yiWundlu, okusho ukuthi “umfanekiso wesilo” ‘uzoya ekubhujisweni.’ (IsAmbulo 17:8) Abasizi, abadumisi nabasekeli balesosilo sasendle nabo bayobhujiswa. Amagama abo awatholakali elotshiwe “encwadini yokuphila.”
10. Yini insali yababiziwe nabakhethiwe okusamelwe iyibonakalise?
10 Naphezu kokuba kwabo ingcosana ngenani manje, abasasele balabo ababiziweyo, abakhethiwe nabathembekile abesabi. Bona laba abayingcosana kusamelwe babonakalise ukwethembeka uKristu aze aqede ukunqoba kwakhe “umfanekiso wesilo” nesilo sasendle ngokwaso kanye nabo bonke abakhulekeli baso emhlabeni. Lokho kuyoba ukuphela kwezwe! Kodwa nakuba izwe liphela, umkhaya wesintu uyaqhubeka!
Kungani Kuthiwa “Izigidi Eziphila Manje”?
11. Isimemezelo sokuthi “Izigidi eziphila manje azisoze zafa emhlabeni wethu” asisekelwanga kuphi, kodwa iziphi izizathu zokulindela lokhu?
11 Isimemezelo esimangazayo “Izigidi eziphila manje azisoze zafa emhlabeni wethu” asisekelwe ekubaleni komuntu kwezibalo, njengokusinda koyedwa kunoma iyiphi i-1 000 yenani lanamuhla labantu bomhlaba. UJehova uNkulunkulu, uMthombo wakho konke ukuphila, akanqumi izinto ezibalulekile ngesisekelo esinjengalesi! Kwakungenjalo phakathi noZamcolo owaletha izwe lesikhathi sikaNowa ekupheleni. Ngokufanayo akunjalo namuhla! Kunezizathu ezingokomBhalo eziqinisekile zokulindela “izigidi eziphila manje” ukuba zisinde.
12. Ngo-1935 obani ababelungele ukuthatha ukuma kwabo ngasohlangothini lwababiziweyo, abakhethiwe nabathembekile, futhi bakubonisa kanjani ukuma kwabo?
12 Eminyakeni emine ngaphambi kokuba iMpi Yezwe II igqashuke ‘nomfanekiso wesilo’ wehlele phansi kwalasha esimweni sokufa, iWundlu likaNkulunkulu lalisenabanye emhlabeni abase belungele ukuza ngasohlangothini lwalo ngokukhanyayo ekuhlelweni nensali yababiziweyo, abakhethiwe nabathembekile. Ngo-1935, phakathi nomhlangano okhumbulekayo woFakazi BakaJehova eWashington D.C., labantu babonisa ngokukhanyayo ukuthi bami ngasohlangothini lweNkosi yamakhosi futhi ngokumelene “nomfanekiso wesilo.” Kanjani? Ngokubhapathizwa obala, abangama-840 babo, njengophawu lokuzinikezela kwabo kuJehova ngokungagodli. Benza kanjalo ngakusasa ngemva kokuba abasemhlanganweni belalele inkulumo eyayithi “Isixuku Esikhulu,” eyayiwukuchazwa kwesAmbulo 7:9-17. Kanjalo basabela ngokushesha ethubeni lokuqala lokuba babe ingxenye ‘yesixuku esikhulu’ esihlanza izingubo zaso egazini leWundlu nesiphuma “osizini olukhulu” uNkulunkulu ngoKristu aluletha phezu “komfanekiso wesilo” nabo bonke abangakuwo ‘nezimpondo eziyishumi’ zawo.
13. (a) Ukufinyezwa kwezinsuku “zosizi olukhulu” kusho ukuthini ngensali yabakhethiweyo? (b) Ngakho uma insali yabakhethiweyo izosindiswa ekupheleni kwalelizwe, kubonisani lokhu?
13 ‘Lolosizi olukhulu’ ‘luyakufinyezwa’ ngenxa yabakhethiweyo bakaJehova, ababiziweyo nabakhethiweyo bakhe. (Mathewu 24:21, 22) Lokhu kusho ukuthi insali yabo iyosinda osizini futhi ibe ofakazi bokuzibonelo besenzo sikaJehova esingavamile ayolwela ngaso ukubusa kwakhe phezu kwezulu nomhlaba. (Isaya 28:21) Njengoba izinsuku zosizi “ziyakufinyezwa” ngenxa yabo, kusobala ukuthi “inyama” ethile iyosindiswa ekupheleni kwalelizwe elidala. Uma insali ekhethiwe iyothola isivikelo sikaJehova esiqinisekisa ukusinda kwayo, ngokufanayo-ke “isixuku esikhulu” sabathembekile, abazinikezele babhapathizwa siyosinda ngaphansi kwesivikelo saphezulu. Namuhla inani elikhulu loFakazi BakaJehova lingamalungu ‘alesosixuku esikhulu’ esiyosinda “ekulweni kosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke” enkundleni yezwe ebizwa ngokuthi iHarmagedoni noma iArmagedoni.—IsAmbulo 16:14-16.
14. Bangaki abangamalungu ‘esixuku esikhulu,’ futhi lokho kuqhathaniseka kanjani nenani labantu lezwe?
14 Okwamanje inani labantu emhlabeni kubikwa ukuthi liyizigidi eziyizi-4 600. Kusukela ngo-1935 C.E. labo ‘besixuku esikhulu’ kumelwe ukuba baye banda baba yizigidi. Ingabe kunjalo? Nokho, insali ekhethiwe eyizinkulungwane ezimbalwa igqibeka ingabonakali ngenxa yamakhulu ezinkulungwane zofakazi bakaJehova ababhapathiziwe abakhuthele ‘ekushumayeleni lelivangeli lombuso’ emhlabeni wonke “kube-ngubufakazi ezizweni zonke.” (Mathewu 24:14; Marku 13:10) Ngokokubala kokucophelela okwenziwa minyaka yonke indlunkulu yeWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society namahhovisi ayo egatsha angama-95, kunabangaphezu kwezigidi ezi-2,4 abakhuthele njalo emsebenzini kaJehova owabelwe ‘lesiphelo sesimiso sezinto.’ Futhi ukubuthwa kwabo bonke labo abayokuba amalungu okugcina “esixuku esikhulu” ezingeni eligcwele akukakapheli. Kumelwe kwande! Kodwa okwamanje isilinganiso cishe singoyedwa ‘wesixuku esikhulu’ kulabo nalabobantu abayizi-2 000 emhlabeni.
15. (a) Kungani kunengqondo ukuthi abantu abaphila manje bayosinda ekupheleni kwalelizwe? (b) Kungani iNkosi yesimiso esisha ingayikuba ubaba wabo wesikhathi esifushane?
15 Manje kumelwe ukuba asisesiningi isikhathi esisele ‘salelohora linye’ “izimpondo eziyishumi” ezingokomfanekiso ezibusa phakathi nalo njengamakhosi nesilwane esibomvu, okungukuthi, “umfanekiso wesilo,” inhlangano yeZizwe Ezihlangene. Khona-ke, ngokunengqondo, amalungu “esixuku esikhulu” angasinda ekubhujisweni okusondelayo ‘kwesilo’ esingokomfanekiso ‘nomfanekiso’ waso. Ngaphansi kwesivikelo sikaJehova bayosinda ekupheleni okunjengomlilo kwalesisimiso esibi sezinto futhi bangene kwesisha isimiso esilungileyo sezinto. (IsAmbulo 7:16, 17) Lapho abayikuphambuka endleleni yokuphila emiswe ngokwaphezulu. Ngakho-ke, uJesu Kristu iNkosi uyoba uYise ongunaphakade kubona.—Isaya 9:6, 7.
Ukulungela Ukuphila Okunganqamuki
16. Iyiphi inkulumo manje engashiwo ngesibindi futhi imaphi amazwi kaJesu angase akhunjulwe ngokufanelekile lapha?
16 Ngakho-ke, lenkulumo ingashiwo ngesibindi nangombono ofanele wokungaphambili, “Izigidi eziphila manje azisoze zafa emhlabeni wethu.” Lapha futhi kufaneleke kakhulu ukukhumbula amazwi kaJesu amangalisayo: “Mina ngingukuvuka nokuphila; okholwa yimi, noma efa, wophila. Nalowo ophila, akholwe yimi, kasoze afa naphakade.”—Johane 11:25, 26.
17. Labo “besixuku esikhulu” kakade sebeye bavuma kanjani ukuthi ukusindiswa bakukweleta uJehova uNkulunkulu neWundlu, futhi manje bakhonza uNkulunkulu kuphi ngendlela eyamukelekayo?
17 Kakade amalungu aphilayo ‘esixuku esikhulu’ akholwa uYe ‘ongukuvuka nokuphila.’ Ngokuzinikezela kwabo kuJehova uNkulunkulu nangokubonakalisa lokhu ngobhapathizo lwamanzi, bavuma ukuthi ukusindiswa ngokuphelele bakukweleta ‘uNkulunkulu wethu ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi neWundlu.’ Basemagcekeni ethempeli likaJehova, bemi phambi kwesihlalo saKhe sobukhosi, kunjalo ngokwamukelekayo ngoba baye bahlanza izingubo zabo bazenza zaba mhlophe egazini leWundlu, uJesu Kristu.—IsAmbulo 7:9, 10, 14.
18. “Isixuku esikhulu” manje singase sibe selungelweni lani, futhi ibuphi ubuhlobo noNkulunkulu esingase sibhekwe njengesinabo?
18 Njengoba “isixuku esikhulu” siye sabalelwa ukulunga, ngaleyondlela, naso futhi manje singase sibe selungelweni lokuzuza ukuphila. (Roma 6:13) Njengenzalamizi yangaphambi kobuKristu uAbrahama, lowo ukuphila okwabalelwa kuye ngenxa yokholo lwakhe olusebenzayo, bangabhekwa ‘njengabahlobo bakaNkulunkulu.’ (Roma 4:6-22; Jakobe 2:23; IHubo 32:2) Ngenxa yokuthi balondoloza ukuma kwabo okulungileyo phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu, uyobagcina bephilile emhlabeni baze badlule “ekulweni kosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke” eHarmagedoni, lapho kuyophela lesisimiso sezinto esidala.
19. (a) Yini esingeke siyidinge ukuze ‘siphile’? (b) Kungani ‘singasoze safa naphakade’?
19 Ngakho abasinde eHarmagedoni ngeke badinge ukuvuka kwabafileyo ukuze ‘baphile’ emhlabeni. Kubona amazwi kaJesu ayogcwaliseka ngendlela engokoqobo ngempela: “Nalowo ophila, akholwe yimi, kasoze afa naphakade.” (Johane 11:26) Ngokufeza ukuzinikezela kwabo kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngokungaxegi nangokwenza intando yakhe njengoba yaziswa kubo ngeNkosi uJesu Kristu, bayofinyelela ukulunga okuphelele koqobo ekupheleni kweminyaka eyinkulungwane yokubusa kukaKristu. Ngaphansi kovivinyo lokugcina oluyolethwa phezu kwaso sonke isintu esibuyiselwe ngalesosikhathi, bayobonisa ukuthembeka kwabo komphefumulo wonke kuNkulunkulu oPhezukonke futhi bayogcina amagama abo elotshiwe “encwadini yokuphila.”—isAmbulo 20:7-15.
20. Ilungelo laso nokuhlangenwe nakho kwaso kuyoba kanjani ingqayizivele phakathi kwabo bonke labo abayohlala emhlabeni oyiPharadesi, futhi ukubonga kumelwe kuye kubani ngokuphelele?
20 Yeka ilungelo eliyingqayizivele manje elibekwe phambi kwe”sixuku esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu’ zikaMalusi Omuhle! (Johane 10:16) Ithemba elibekwe phambi kwabo—lokuphila ngentokozo engonakalisiwe ensimini yase-Edene ebuyiselwe emhlabeni futhi yanatshiselwa emhlabeni wonke—likhanga kakhulu. Ngempela bayoba nento yokuphilelwa. Phakathi kwaso sonke isintu esiyohlala emhlabeni oyiPharadesi okuhlangenwe nakho kwabo ngempela kuyoba okuyingqayizivele nokuhlukile, lokho kokusinda ekupheleni kwalesisimiso sezinto esibi nokokuthi abasoze bafe emhlabeni wethu. Okumelwe abongwe ngalokhu onguMthombo wokuphila okuphelele, uJehova uNkulunkulu, ngeNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu.
Imibuzo Yokubukeza
□ Isithembiso sikaJesu ‘sokungafi naphakade’ sisebenza kobani?
□ Siyini isilo sesAmbulo isahluko 17, futhi sihileleke kanjani ekutheni abantu bayakuthola yini ukuphila okuphakade noma cha?
□ Kungani kunengqondo ukuthi abantu abaphila manje bayosinda ekupheleni kwalelizwe?
□ UNkulunkulu uwabheka kanjani amalungu ‘esixuku esikhulu,’ futhi yini eye yabalelwa kuwo?
[Isithombe ekhasini 20]
Isimo sakho ‘ngakulesi silo’ sikuthinta kanjani ukusindela kwakho ukujabulela ukuphila okuphakade?
[Isithombe ekhasini 22]
Izigidi azisoze zafa. Ungaba kanjani phakathi kwazo?