Isahluko Seshumi Nantathu
Isixuku Esikhulu Esiphambi Kwesihlalo Sobukhosi SikaJehova
1. (a) Ngaphambi kokuba izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zangaphambi kobuKristu noma abangu-144 000 bathole umvuzo wabo, yini okumelwe yenzeke kubo? (b) “Isixuku esikhulu” esiphila kulesi sikhathi sinaliphi ithuba?
IZINCEKU zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile kusukela ku-Abela kuya kuJohane uMbhapathizi zabeka ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu kuqala ekuphileni kwazo. Noma kunjalo zonke zafa, zilindele ukuvuselwa kwazo ekuphileni kwasemhlabeni ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu. Abangu-144 000 abayobusa noKristu eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini, nabo kumelwe bafe ngaphambi kokuba bamukele umvuzo wabo. Nokho, isAmbulo 7:9 sibonisa ukuthi kulezi zinsuku zokugcina kwakuzoba ‘nesixuku esikhulu’ esiphuma kuzo zonke izizwe esasingeke sife kodwa esasiyoba nethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni. Ingabe uphakathi kwaso?
Ukubona Isixuku Esikhulu
2. Yini eyaholela ekuqondeni ngokucacile ukuthi singobani isixuku esikhulu sesAmbulo 7:9?
2 Ngo-1923, izinceku zikaJehova zaqonda ukuthi “izimvu” zomfanekiso kaJesu otholakala kuMathewu 25:31-46 ‘nezinye izimvu’ akhuluma ngazo kuJohane 10:16 zingabantu ababeyoba nethuba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni. Ngo-1931 kwaqondwa futhi ukuthi labo abachazwa kuHezekeli 9:1-11 njengababekwe uphawu emabunzini abo banethemba lasemhlabeni. Kwase kuthi ngo-1935 kwaqondwa ukuthi isixuku esikhulu sakha ingxenye yesigaba sezinye izimvu uJesu akhuluma ngaso. Namuhla, lesi sixuku esikhulu esiboniswe umusa sibalelwa ezigidini.
3. Kungani inkulumo ethi ‘simi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi’ ingabhekiseli esigabeni sasezulwini?
3 KusAmbulo 7:9, isixuku esikhulu asibonakali sisezulwini. Akudingeki ukuba sibe sezulwini ukuze ‘sime phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi’ sikaNkulunkulu. Simane nje silapho uNkulunkulu esibona khona. (IHubo 11:4) Ukuthi isixuku esikhulu “okungekho muntu owakwazi ukusibala” asisona isigaba sasezulwini kubonakala ngokuqhathanisa isibalo saso esingashiwongo nalokho okulotshwe kusAmbulo 7:4-8 nakusAmbulo 14:1-4. Lapho, isibalo salabo abathathwe emhlabeni abaya ezulwini sembuliwe ukuthi bangu-144 000.
4. (a) Luyini “usizi olukhulu” isixuku esikhulu esisinda kulo? (b) Njengoba kushiwo kusAmbulo 7:11, 12, obani ababona okwenziwa yisixuku esikhulu futhi abahlanganyela naso ekukhulekeleni?
4 IsAmbulo 7:14 sithi ngesixuku esikhulu: “Laba yilabo abaphuma osizini olukhulu.” Sisinda enhlekeleleni embi kunazo zonke ezake zehlela abantu emlandweni. (Mathewu 24:21) Lapho sibonga uNkulunkulu noKristu ngensindiso yaso, zonke ezinye izidalwa ezithembekile ezulwini ziyohlanganyela naso ekutheni: “Amen! Ukutuswa nenkazimulo nokuhlakanipha nokubonga nodumo namandla nezikhwepha makube kuNkulunkulu wethu kuze kube phakade naphakade. Amen.”—IsAmbulo 7:11, 12.
Ukuzenza Sifaneleke
5. Singazi kanjani ukuthi yini edingekayo ukuze sibe ingxenye yesixuku esikhulu?
5 Ukulondolozwa kwesixuku esikhulu osizini olukhulu kwenzeka ngokuvumelana nezindinganiso zikaJehova ezilungile. IBhayibheli lizichaza ngokucacile izimfanelo zalabo abayokhululwa. Ngakho, abathanda ukulunga bangazithatha izinyathelo kwamanje zokuzenza bafanelekele ukusinda. Yini okumelwe bayenze?
6. Kungani kufaneleka ukufanisa isixuku esikhulu nezimvu?
6 Izimvu zimnene futhi zithobekile. Ngakho lapho uJesu ethi wayenezinye izimvu ezazingezona ezesigaba sasezulwini, wayekhuluma ngabantu ababengeke bafune nje ukuphila phakade emhlabeni kuphela kodwa ababeyozithoba nasezimfundisweni zakhe. Wathi: “Izimvu zami ziyalilalela izwi lami, futhi nami ngiyazazi futhi ziyangilandela.” (Johane 10:16, 27) Laba ngabantu abakulalela ngempela lokho uJesu akushoyo futhi bakwenze ngokuzithoba, babe abafundi bakhe.
7. Yiziphi izimfanelo okudingeka abalandeli bakaJesu bazihlakulele?
7 Yiziphi ezinye izimfanelo ngamunye walaba balandeli bakaJesu okwakuyodingeka azihlakulele? IZwi likaNkulunkulu liyaphendula: “Kufanele nilahle ubuntu obudala obuvumelana nenkambo yenu yokuziphatha yangaphambili futhi . . . nigqoke ubuntu obusha obadalwa ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu ngokulunga kweqiniso nokwethembeka.” (Efesu 4:22-24) Bahlakulela izimfanelo ezithuthukisa ubunye bezinceku zikaNkulunkulu—‘uthando, injabulo, ukuthula, ukubhekakade, umusa, ubuhle, ukholo, ubumnene, ukuzithiba.’—Galathiya 5:22, 23.
8. Isixuku esikhulu siyobhekana nani njengoba sisekela insali?
8 Isixuku esikhulu sisekela idlanzana lalabo abanethemba lasezulwini, abaholayo emsebenzini wokushumayela. (Mathewu 24:14; 25:40) Ezinye izimvu ziyabasekela yize zazi ukuthi ziyophikiswa ngoba ekuqaleni kwalezi zinsuku zokugcina, uKristu Jesu nezingelosi zakhe baxosha uSathane namademoni akhe ezulwini. Lokhu kwaletha ‘umayé emhlabeni . . . ngoba uDeveli ehlele kuwo, enentukuthelo enkulu, azi ukuthi unenkathi yesikhathi emfushane.’ (IsAmbulo 12:7-12) Ngakho, uSathane uphikisa izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ngendlela eshube nakakhulu njengoba isiphelo salesi simiso sisondela.
9. Ziphumelela kangakanani izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle, futhi ngani?
9 Naphezu kokushushiswa ngonya, umsebenzi wokushumayela uqhubekela phambili. Ekupheleni kweMpi Yezwe I abashumayeli boMbuso babeyizinkulungwane ezimbalwa kuphela, kodwa manje bayizigidi ngoba uJehova wathembisa: “Asikho isikhali esenzelwa wena esiyakuphumelela.” (Isaya 54:17) Ngisho nelungu lenkantolo ephakeme yamaJuda laqaphela ukuthi umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu wawungeke unqotshwe. Likhuluma ngabafundi labatshela lokhu abaFarisi ekhulwini lokuqala: “Bayekeni; (ngoba, uma leliqhinga noma lomsebenzi uvela kubantu, uyogumbuqelwa; kodwa uma uvela kuNkulunkulu, ngeke nikwazi ukubagumbuqela;) uma kungenjalo, mhlawumbe, ningatholakala empeleni ningabantu abalwa noNkulunkulu.”—IzEnzo 5:38, 39.
10. (a) Lusho ukuthini “uphawu” olusesixukwini esikhulu? (b) Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zililalela kanjani ‘izwi elivela ezulwini’?
10 Abesixuku esikhulu bavezwa njengababekwe uphawu lokusinda. (Hezekeli 9:4-6) “Uphawu” luwubufakazi bokuthi bazinikezele kuJehova, babhapathizwa njengabafundi bakaJesu, futhi balwela ukuhlakulela ubuntu obunjengobukaKristu. Balalela ‘izwi elivela ezulwini’ elisho lokhu ngokuqondene nombuso kaSathane womhlaba wonke wenkolo yamanga: “Phumani kulo, bantu bami, uma ningafuni ukuhlanganyela nalo ezonweni zalo, futhi ningafuni ukwamukela ingxenye yezinhlupho zalo.”—IsAmbulo 18:1-5.
11. Abesixuku esikhulu babonisa ngayiphi indlela ebalulekile ukuthi bayizinceku zikaJehova?
11 UJesu wabuye watshela abalandeli bakhe: “Bonke bayokwazi ngalokhu ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma ninothando phakathi kwenu.” (Johane 13:35) Ngokuphambene, amalungu ezinkolo zaleli zwe ayabulalana empini, ngokuvamile ngenxa nje yokuthi angawezizwe ezihlukene! IZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Abantwana bakaNkulunkulu nabantwana bakaDeveli babonakala ngaleliqiniso: Wonke umuntu ongaqhubeki enza ukulunga akasuki kuNkulunkulu nalowo ongamthandi umfowabo. . . . Kufanele sibe nothando ngomunye nomunye; singafani noKayini, owayesuka komubi futhi wabulala umfowabo.”—1 Johane 3:10-12.
12. Osizini olukhulu, yini uJehova ayoyenza ‘ngemithi’ yenkolo eveza izithelo ezingenanzuzo?
12 UJesu wathi: “Yonke imithi emihle ithela izithelo ezinhle, kodwa yonke imithi ebolile ithela izithelo ezingenanzuzo; umuthi omuhle awunakuthela izithelo ezingenanzuzo, nomuthi obolile awunakuthela izithelo ezinhle. Yonke imithi engatheli izithelo ezinhle iyagawulwa iphonswe emlilweni. Khona-ke, ngempela lababantu niyobazi ngezithelo zabo.” (Mathewu 7:17-20) Izithelo ezivezwa yizinkolo zaleli zwe zibonisa ukuthi ‘ziyimithi’ ebolile, uJehova azoyibhubhisa maduzane osizini olukhulu.—IsAmbulo 17:16.
13. Isixuku esikhulu sibonisa kanjani ukuthi ngobunye ‘simi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi’ sikaJehova?
13 IsAmbulo 7:9-15 siqokomisa izici eziholela ekulondolozweni kwesixuku esikhulu. Sivezwa sinobunye ‘simi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi’ sikaJehova, sisekela ubukhosi bakhe bendawo yonke. ‘Sigezé izivatho zaso sazenza zaba mhlophe egazini leWundlu,’ okubonisa ukuthi siyawuqaphela umhlatshelo kaJesu ohlawulela izono. (Johane 1:29) Siye sazinikezela kuNkulunkulu sakubonakalisa lokhu ngokucwiliswa emanzini. Ngakho sinokuma okuhlanzekile phambi kukaNkulunkulu, okufanekiselwa yizivatho ezimhlophe, futhi sinikela “inkonzo engcwele kuye imini nobusuku.” Ingabe zikhona izindlela ongakuvumelanisa ngazo ngokugcwele ukuphila kwakho nalokho okuchazwe lapha?
Izinzuzo Zamanje
14. Yiziphi ezinye zezinzuzo eziyingqayizivele ezitholwa izinceku zikaJehova ngisho kwamanje?
14 Kungenzeka ukuthi usuziphawulile izinzuzo eziyingqayizivele ezitholwa yilabo abakhonza uJehova ngisho kwamanje. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho ufunda ngezinjongo zikaJehova zokulunga, waqonda ukuthi kwakunethemba eliqhakazile lesikhathi esizayo. Ngakho manje ukuphila kwakho kunenjongo yangempela—ukukhonza uNkulunkulu weqiniso unethemba elijabulisayo lokuphila phakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi. Yebo, iNkosi uJesu Kristu ‘iyoqondisa [isixuku esikhulu] emithonjeni yamanzi okuphila.’—IsAmbulo 7:17.
15. OFakazi BakaJehova bazuza kanjani ngokunamathela ezimisweni zeBhayibheli ezindabeni zezombangazwe nezokuziphatha?
15 Inzuzo enkulu ejatshulelwa yisixuku esikhulu uthando, ubunye, nokuzwana okutholakala phakathi kwezinceku zikaJehova emhlabeni wonke. Njengoba sonke sidla ukudla okufanayo okungokomoya, sonke silalela imithetho nezimiso ezifanayo ezitholakala eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Yingakho singahlukene ngenxa yemibono yezombangazwe noma yobuzwe. Futhi, silondoloza izindinganiso zokuziphatha eziphakeme uNkulunkulu azilindele kubantu bakhe. (1 Korinte 6:9-11) Ngakho, esikhundleni semibango, uqhekeko, nokuziphatha okubi okudlangile ezweni, abantu bakaJehova bajabulela lokho okungabizwa ngokuthi ipharadesi elingokomoya. Phawula indlela okuchazwa ngayo lokhu ku-Isaya 65:13, 14.
16. Naphezu kwezinkinga ezivamile zokuphila, abesixuku esikhulu banaliphi ithemba?
16 Cha, akukhona ukuthi izinceku zikaJehova ezingabantu ziphelele. Ziyazithinta izinkinga ezivamile zokuphila kuleli zwe, njengokubhekana nezikhathi ezinzima noma ukuba izisulu ezingenacala ezimpini zezizwe. Ziyagula, ziyahlupheka futhi ziyafa. Kodwa zinokholo lokuthi ezweni elisha, uNkulunkulu ‘uyosula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni azo, futhi ukufa ngeke kusaba khona, noma ukulila noma ukukhala noma ubuhlungu ngeke kusaba khona.’—IsAmbulo 21:4.
17. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yini engase isehlele manje, yiliphi ikusasa elihle eligcinelwe labo abakhulekela uNkulunkulu weqiniso?
17 Ngisho noma ungase ufe manje ngenxa yokuguga, ukugula, ingozi, noma ukushushiswa, uJehova uyokuvusela ekuphileni ePharadesi. (IzEnzo 24:15) Khona-ke uyoqhubeka ujabulela idili elingokomoya phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane. Uyomthanda ngokujulile uNkulunkulu lapho ubona izinjongo zakhe zigcwaliseka ngendlela ekhazimulayo. Izibusiso ezingokoqobo eziyovela kuJehova ngaleso sikhathi ziyokwenza umthande nangokujulile. (Isaya 25:6-9) Ave lilihle ikusasa uNkulunkulu aligcinele abantu bakhe!
Ingxoxo Yokubukeza
• IBhayibheli lihlanganisa isixuku esikhulu nasiphi isenzakalo esingavamile?
• Uma ngempela sifuna ukuba yingxenye yaleso sixuku esikhulu uNkulunkulu asibonise umusa, yini okumelwe siyenze manje?
• Zibaluleke kangakanani kuwe izibusiso isixuku esikhulu esizitholayo manje nesisazozithola ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu?
[Isithombe ekhasini 123]
Izigidi zesixuku esikhulu zikhulekela uNkulunkulu weqiniso ngobunye