Isixuku Esikhulu Sabakhulekeli Beqiniso—Sivelaphi?

“Bheka-ke isixuku esikhulu . . . sivela kuzo zonke izizwe, nemindeni, nabantu, nezilimi, simi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi naphambi kweWundlu.”—ISAMBULO 7:9.

 1. Kungani sinesithakazelo esikhulu emibonweni engokwesiprofetho ekusAmbulo namuhla?

NGASEKUPHELENI kwekhulu lokuqala C.E., umphostoli uJohane wabona imibono yezenzakalo ezimangalisayo eziphathelene nenjongo kaJehova. Ezinye zezinto azibona embonweni ziyagcwaliseka khona manje. Ezinye kulindeleke ukuba zigcwaliseke esikhathini esizayo esiseduze. Zonke lezizinto zigxile emvuthwandaba ovusa amadlingozi wenjongo kaJehova enhle yokungcwelisa igama lakhe phambi kwayo yonke indalo. (Hezekeli 38:23; IsAmbulo 4:11; 5:13) Ngaphezu kwalokhu, zihilela amathemba okuphila alowo nalowo kithi. Kwenzeka kanjani lokho?

 2. (a) Yini umphostoli uJohane ayibona embonweni wakhe wesine? (b) Imiphi imibuzo ngokuphathelene nalombono esizoyicabangela?

² Kowesine ochungechungeni lwemibono yesAmbulo, uJohane wabona izingelosi zibambe imimoya yembubhiso kuze kube yilapho “izinceku zikaNkulunkulu wethu” sezibekwe uphawu emabunzini azo. Khona-ke wabona isenzakalo esivusa amadlingozi kunazo zonke—“isixuku esikhulu ebesingenakubalwa-muntu, sivela kuzo zonke izizwe, nemindeni, nabantu, nezilimi,” simunye ekukhulekeleni uJehova nasekudumiseni iNdodana yakhe. UJohane watshelwa ukuthi laba, babengabantu ababeyophuma osizini olukhulu. (IsAmbulo 7:1-17) Obani laba abachazwa ngokuthi “izinceku zikaNkulunkulu wethu”? Futhi obani abayokwakha “isixuku esikhulu” sabayosinda osizini? Ingabe uyoba omunye wabo?

Zingobani “Izinceku ZikaNkulunkulu Wethu”?

 3. (a) KuJohane 10:1-18, uJesu wabufanekisa kanjani ubuhlobo bakhe nabalandeli bakhe? (b) Yini uJesu ayenza yaba nokwenzeka ngezimvu zakhe ngokufa kwakhe komhlatshelo?

³ Cishe ezinyangeni ezine ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uJesu wakhuluma ngaye ngokwakhe ‘njengomalusi omuhle’ nangabafundi bakhe ‘njengezimvu’ ayeyobeka ukuphila kwakhe phansi ngenxa yazo. Wakhuluma ngokukhethekile ngezimvu ayezithole zisesibayeni esingokomfanekiso futhi ngemva kwalokho wazinakekela ngokukhethekile. (Johane 10:1-18)a Ngothando, uJesu wawunikela umphefumulo wakhe ngenxa yezimvu zakhe, enikeza inani lesihlengo elalidingeka ukuze zikhululwe esonweni nasekufeni.

 4. Obani abangabokuqala abaqoqwa njengezimvu ngokuvumelana nalokho uJesu akusho lapha?

⁴ Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba enze lokho, uJesu njengoMalusi Omuhle wababutha ngokwakhe abafundi. Abokuqala bethulwa kuye uJohane uMbhapathizi, “umlindisango” womfanekiso kaJesu. UJesu wayefuna abantu ababeyosabela ethubeni lokuba ingxenye ‘yembewu ka-Abrahama’ ehlanganisa abaningi. (Genesise 22:18; Galathiya 3:16, 29) Wahlakulela ezinhliziyweni zabo ukwazisa ngoMbuso wamazulu, futhi wabaqinisekisa ukuthi wayeyobalungisela indawo endlini kaYise osezulwini. (Mathewu 13:44-46; Johane 14:2, 3) Ngokufanelekile wathi: “Kusukela emihleni kaJohane uMbhapathizi kuze kube-manje umbuso wezulu uyafuzulwa, nabafuzulayo bayawuphanga.” (Mathewu 11:12) Laba abamlandela ukuze bafinyelele lowomgomo basesibayeni uJesu akhuluma ngaso.

 5. (a) Zingobani “izinceku zikaNkulunkulu wethu” okukhulunywa ngazo kusAmbulo 7:3-8? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi kunabaningi ngokwengeziwe ababeyohlanganyela ekukhulekeleni kanye nama-Israyeli angokomoya?

⁵ KusAmbulo 7:3-8, labo abaphokophela phambili ngokuphumelelayo kulowomgomo wasezulwini babizwa futhi ngokuthi “izinceku zikaNkulunkulu wethu.” (Bheka eyoku-1 Petru 2:9, 16.) Ingabe labo abangu-144 000 abaphawulwe lapho bangamaJuda emvelo kuphela? Ingabe labo abasesibayeni esingokomfanekiso somfanekiso kaJesu bangamaJuda kuphela? Ngokuqinisekile akunjalo; bangamalungu ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ongokomoya, bonke bahlanganyela noKristu embewini ka-Abrahama engokomoya. (Galathiya 3:28, 29; 6:16; IsAmbulo 14:1, 3) Yiqiniso, ekugcineni sasiyofika isikhathi lapho lelinani elimisiwe laliyogcwala khona. Bese kwenzekani? Njengoba iBhayibheli lalibikezele, abanye—isixuku esikhulu sabo—babeyohlanganyela nalama-Israyeli angokomoya ekukhulekeleni uJehova.—Zakariya 8:23.

‘Ezinye Izimvu’—Ingabe ZingamaKristu AbeZizwe?

 6. UJohane 10:16 ubhekisela kusiphi isenzakalo?

⁶ Ngemva kokukhuluma ngesibaya esisodwa kuJohane 10:7-15, uJesu wafaka elinye iqembu kulendaba, ethi: “Nezinye izimvu nginazo ezingesizo ezalesisibaya; nalezo ngimelwe ukuziletha; ziyakuzwa izwi lami, kube-mhlambi munye nomalusi munye.” (Johane 10:16) Zingobani lezo “ezinye izimvu”?

7, 8. (a) Kungani umqondo wokuthi ezinye izimvu zingamaKristu abeZizwe wakhelwe esisekelweni esiyiphutha? (b) Imaphi amaqiniso ngokuphathelene nenjongo kaNkulunkulu ngomhlaba okufanele athinte ukuqonda kwethu ukuthi zingobani lezi ezinye izimvu?

⁷ Abakhulumeli beLobukholwa ngokuvamile banombono wokuthi lezi ezinye izimvu zingamaKristu abeZizwe nokuthi lezo ezisesibayeni okukhulunywe ngazo ngaphambili zingamaJuda, ayengaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho, nokuthi womabili lamaqembu aya ezulwini. Kodwa uJesu wazalwa engumJuda futhi ngokuzalwa wayengaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho. (Galathiya 4:4) Ngaphezu kwalokho, labo ababheka ezinye izimvu njengamaKristu abeZizwe ayovuzwa ngokuphila kwasezulwini basilalelwa ukucabangela isici esibalulekile senjongo kaNkulunkulu. Lapho uJehova edala abantu bokuqala futhi ebabeka ensimini yase-Edene, wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi injongo yakhe yayiwukuba umhlaba wakhiwe ngabantu, ukuba wonke ube ipharadesi, nokuba abanakekeli bawo abangabantu bajabulele ukuphila phakade—kuphela uma behlonipha futhi belalela uMdali wabo.—Genesise 1:26-28; 2:15-17; Isaya 45:18.

⁸ Lapho u-Adamu ona, injongo kaJehova ayizange ibhuntshe. UNkulunkulu ngothando wenzela inzalo ka-Adamu ilungiselelo lokuba ibe nethuba lokujabulela lokho u-Adamu ahluleka ukukwazisa. UJehova wabikezela ukuthi wayeyoveza umkhululi, imbewu, okwakuyotholakala ngaye izibusiso kuzo zonke izizwe. (Genesise 3:15; 22:18) Lesosithembiso sasingasho ukuthi bonke abantu abalungileyo emhlabeni babeyoyiswa ezulwini. UJesu wafundisa abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandaze bathi: “Mawufike umbuso wakho. Mayenziwe intando yakho emhlabeni njengasezulwini.” (Omalukeke sizenzele.) (Mathewu 6:9, 10) Esikhathini esingeside ngaphambi kokuba uJesu asho lomfanekiso olotshwe kuJohane 10:1-16, wayetshele abafundi bakhe ukuthi ‘umhlambi omncane’ kuphela uYise ayethande ukuwunika uMbuso wasezulwini. (Luka 12:32, 33) Ngakho lapho sifunda umfanekiso uJesu azifanekisa kuwo njengoMalusi Omuhle onikela umphefumulo wakhe ngenxa yezimvu zakhe, kungaba iphutha ukubakhiphela ngaphandle abaningi balabo uJesu abaletha ngaphansi kokunakekela kwakhe kothando, labo ababa izikhonzi zasemhlabeni zoMbuso wakhe wasezulwini.—Johane 3:16.

 9. Emuva kangango-1884, abaFundi BeBhayibheli babeqonda ukuthi ezinye izimvu zingobani?

⁹ Emuva kangango-1884, i-Watch Tower yachaza ezinye izimvu njengabantu ababeyonikezwa ithuba lokuphila kulomhlaba ngaphansi kwezimo eziyogcwalisa injongo kaNkulunkulu yokuqala. LabobaFundi BeBhayibheli bokuqala baqaphela ukuthi abanye balezi ezinye izimvu kwakuyoba abantu ababephile futhi bafa ngaphambi kwenkonzo kaJesu yasemhlabeni. Nokho, kwakukhona imininingwane ethile ababengayiqondi ngokunembile. Ngokwesibonelo, babecabanga ukuthi ukubuthwa kwezinye izimvu kwakuyokwenzeka ngemva kokuba bonke abagcotshiweyo sebewutholile umvuzo wabo wasezulwini. Noma kunjalo, ngokuqinisekile bakuqaphela ukuthi ezinye izimvu zazingewona kuphela amaKristu abeZizwe. Ithuba lokuba omunye wezinye izimvu livulekele kokubili amaJuda nabeZizwe, abantu bazo zonke izizwe nezinhlanga.—Qhathanisa nezEnzo 10:34, 35.

10. Ukuze sibe yilabo uJesu ababheka ngempela njengezinye izimvu zakhe, kumelwe sibe yini isimo sethu?

¹⁰ Ukuze zifanelane nencazelo enikezwe uJesu, ezinye izimvu kumelwe zibe ngabantu abaqaphela uJesu Kristu njengoMalusi Omuhle, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siyini isizinda sabo sobuhlanga noma sobuzwe. Kuhlanganisani lokho? Kumelwe babonise ukuthobeka nokuvuma ngokuzithandela ukuholwa, okuyizimfanelo ezihlukanisa izimvu. (IHubo 37:11) Njengoba kunjalo ngomhlambi omncane, kumelwe ‘balazi izwi likamalusi omuhle’ futhi bangavumi ukuba badukiswe abanye abangase bafune ukubathonya. (Johane 10:4; 2 Johane 9, 10) Kumelwe baqaphele ukubaluleka kwalokho uJesu akwenza ngokunikela umphefumulo wakhe ngenxa yezimvu zakhe futhi babonise ukholo olugcwele kulelolungiselelo. (IzEnzo 4:12) Kumelwe ‘bezwe’ izwi likaMalusi Omuhle lapho ebanxusa ukuba banikele inkonzo engcwele kuJehova kuphela, ukuba baqhubeke befuna uMbuso kuqala, ukuba bahlale behlukile ezweni, nokuba babonisane uthando lokuzidela. (Mathewu 4:10; 6:31-33; Johane 15:12, 13, 19) Ingabe uyafanelana naleyoncazelo yalabo uJesu ababheka njengezinye izimvu zakhe? Ingabe uyafuna ukufanelana nayo? Yeka ubuhlobo obuyigugu obuvulekela labo ngempela ababa ezinye izimvu zikaJesu!

Inhlonipho Ngegunya LoMbuso

11. (a) Esibonakalisweni sokuba khona kwakhe, yini uJesu ayisho ngezimvu nangezimbuzi? (b) Bangobani abafowabo uJesu abhekisela kubo?

¹¹ Ezinyangeni eziningana ngemva kokuba enikeze lomfanekiso ongenhla, uJesu wayeseJerusalema futhi. Lapho ehlezi eNtabeni Yeminqumo eyengame indawo yethempeli, wanikeza abafundi bakhe imininingwane ‘yesibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe nesokuphela kwalesisimiso sezinto.’ (Mathewu 24:3, NW) Waphinda futhi wakhuluma ngokubuthwa kwezimvu. Phakathi kwezinye izinto, 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.” Kulomfanekiso, uJesu wabonisa ukuthi labo iNkosi edonsela ukunakekela kwayo kubo bayokwahlulelwa ngesisekelo sendlela abasebenzelana ngayo ‘nabafowabo.’ (Mathewu 25:31-46) Bangobani lababafowabo? BangamaKristu azelwe ngomoya ngaleyondlela ‘bangamadodana kaNkulunkulu.’ UJesu uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu eyizibulo. Ngakho, bangabafowabo bakaKristu. ‘Bayizinceku zikaNkulunkulu wethu’ eziphawulwe kusAmbulo 7:3, ezikhethwe esintwini ukuba zihlanganyele noKristu eMbusweni wakhe wasezulwini.—Roma 8:14-17.

12. Kungani indlela abantu abasebenzelana ngayo nabafowabo bakaKristu ibaluleke kakhulu?

¹² Indlela abanye abantu abasebenzelana ngayo nalezizindlalifa zoMbuso ibaluleke kakhulu. Ingabe ubabheka ngendlela uJesu Kristu ababheka ngayo nangendlela uJehova ababheka ngayo? (Mathewu 24:45-47; 2 Thesalonika 2:13) Isimo somuntu ngakulaba abagcotshiweyo sibonisa isimo sakhe ngakuJesu Kristu ngokwakhe nakuYise, uMbusi Wendawo Yonke.—Mathewu 10:40; 25:34-46.

13. AbaFundi BeBhayibheli ngo-1884 bawuqonda ngezinga elingakanani umfanekiso wezimvu nezimbuzi?

¹³ Kweka-August 1884, i-Watch Tower yakuveza ngokunembile ukuthi “izimvu” kulomfanekiso yilabo okuyobe kubekwe phambi kwabo ithemba lokuphila okuphelele emhlabeni. Kwaqondwa futhi ukuthi lomfanekiso kumelwe ukuba uyosebenza lapho uKristu esebusa esesihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi senkazimulo sasezulwini. Nokho, ngalesosikhathi, abazange bakuqonde ngokucacile ukuthi wayeyowuqala nini umsebenzi wokwahlukanisa ochazwe lapho noma ukuthi wawuyothatha isikhathi eside kangakanani.

14. Inkulumo yomhlangano ngo-1923 yabasiza kanjani abaFundi BeBhayibheli ukuba baqonde ukuthi umfanekiso kaJesu ongokwesiprofetho wawuyogcwaliseka nini?

¹⁴ Nokho, ngo-1923, enkulumweni yomhlangano omkhulu, uJ. F. Rutherford, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngalesosikhathi, wacacisa isikhathi sokugcwaliseka komfanekiso wezimvu nezimbuzi. Ngani? Ngokwengxenye, ngenxa yokuthi umfanekiso ubonisa ukuthi abafowabo beNkosi—okungenani abanye babo—babeyobe besesemhlabeni. Phakathi kwabantu, abalandeli bakhe abazelwe ngomoya kuphela ababengase ngempela babizwe ngokuthi abafowabo. (Heberu 2:10-12) Laba babengeke babe semhlabeni phakathi nakho konke ukuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane, ukuze banikeze abantu ithuba lokwenza okuhle kubo ngezindlela uJesu azichaza.—IsAmbulo 20:6.

15. (a) Iziphi izenzakalo ezasiza abaFundi BeBhayibheli ukuba bazi ngokunembile ukuthi zingobani izimvu zomfanekiso kaJesu? (b) Izimvu ziye zabunikeza kanjani ubufakazi bokuthi ziyawazisa uMbuso?

¹⁵ Kuleyonkulumo ngo-1923, kwenziwa umzamo wokuchaza labo abafanelana nencazelo yeNkosi yezimvu nezimbuzi, kodwa kunezinye izinto okwakudingeka ziqondwe kuqala ngaphambi kokuba umqondo ogcwele walomfanekiso ucace. Phakathi neminyaka eyalandela, uJehova ngokuthuthukayo wadonsela ukunakekela kwezinceku zakhe kulemininingwane ebalulekile. Lena yahlanganisa nokuqonda ngokucacile, ngo-1927, ukuthi ‘inceku ethembekile neqondayo’ iyiyo yonke indikimba yamaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya emhlabeni; nokuqonda, ngo-1932, isidingo sokuzihlanganisa ngokungesabi nezinceku zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe, njengoba uJehonadaba azihlanganisa noJehu. (Mathewu 24:45; 2 AmaKhosi 10:15) Ngalesosikhathi, ngesisekelo sesAmbulo 22:17, laba abanjengezimvu bakhuthazwa ngokukhethekile ukuba bahlanganyele ekuyiseni isigijimi soMbuso kwabanye. Ukwazisa kwabo ngoMbuso wobuMesiya kwakuyobashukumisela ukuba bangamane nje kuphela babonise umusa wobuntu kwabagcotshiweyo beNkosi kodwa nokuba banikezele ukuphila kwabo kuJehova ngoKristu futhi bahlanganyele eduze nabagcotshiweyo bakhe, behlanganyela ngentshiseko emsebenzini abawenzayo. Ingabe uyakwenza lokho? Kulabo abakwenzayo, iNkosi iyothi: “Zanini nina enibusisiwe nguBaba, nidle ifa lombuso eniwulungiselweyo selokhu kwasekelwa umhlaba.” Phambi kwabo kuyoba nethuba elihle lokuphila okuphakade benokuphelela endaweni yoMbuso yasemhlabeni.—Mathewu 25:34, 46.

“Isixuku Esikhulu”—Siyaphi?

16. (a) Yimiphi imibono eyiphutha abaFundi BeBhayibheli bokuqala ababenayo ngokuqondene nokuthi singobani isixuku esikhulu esikusAmbulo 7:9? (b) Umbono wabo walungiswa nini futhi ngasiphi isisekelo?

¹⁶ Isikhathi esithile izinceku zikaJehova zazikholelwa ukuthi isixuku esikhulu esikusAmbulo 7:9, 10 sihlukile kwezinye izimvu ezikuJohane 10:16 nezimvu ezikuMathewu 25:33. Ngenxa yokuthi iBhayibheli lithi “simi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi,” kwakucatshangwa ukuthi sasiyoba sezulwini, hhayi ezihlalweni zobukhosi, sibusa njengezindlalifa ezikanye noKristu, kodwa endaweni yezinga eliphansi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi. Sasibhekwa njengamaKristu angathembekile kangako, angazange abonise umoya wokuzidela kweqiniso. Ngo-1935 lowombono walungiswa.b Ukuhlolwa kwesAmbulo 7:9 ngokukhanyiselwa imibhalo enjengoMathewu 25:31, 32 kwakwenza kwacaca ukuthi abantu abalapha emhlabeni bangaba “phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi.” Futhi kwavezwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu akanazo izindinganiso ezimbili zokwethembeka. Bonke ababeyokwamukelwa nguye kwakumelwe balondoloze ubuqotho kuye.—Mathewu 22:37, 38; Luka 16:10.

17, 18. (a) Yini eyabangela ukwanda okukhulu, kwenani lalabo ababheke phambili ekuphileni phakade emhlabeni, kusukela ngo-1935? (b) Yimuphi umsebenzi obalulekile abesixuku esikhulu abahlanganyela kuwo ngentshiseko?

¹⁷ Iminyaka eminingi abantu bakaJehova babeye bakhuluma ngezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu ngokuphathelene nomhlaba. Ngenxa yalokho ababelindele ukuba kwenzeke emuva ngawo-1920, bamemezela ukuthi “Izigidi Eziphilayo Manje Azisoze Zafa.” Kodwa zazingekho izigidi zabamukela amalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu okuphila ngalesosikhathi. Kwabaningi abalamukela iqiniso, umoya ongcwele wakhulisa ithemba lokuphila kwasezulwini. Nokho, ikakhulukazi ngemva kuka-1935, kwaba noshintsho oluphawulekayo. Akukhona ukuthi INqabayokulinda yayilishaye indiva ithemba lokuphila okuphakade emhlabeni. Amashumi eminyaka izinceku zikaJehova zazikhulume ngalo futhi zabafuna labo ababefanelana nencazelo yeBhayibheli. Nokho, ngesikhathi sikaJehova esifanele, waqikelela ukuthi laba bazibonakalise ngokwabo.

¹⁸ Imibhalo egciniwe etholakalayo ibonisa ukuthi eminyakeni eminingi iningi lababeba khona eSikhumbuzweni lalidla izifanekiselo. Kodwa phakathi neminyaka engu-25 ngemva kuka-1935, inani lababeba khona eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu saminyaka yonke lenyuka laphinda inani lababedla ngekhulu. Babengobani laba abanye? Yilabo ababeyoba amalungu esixuku esikhulu. Ngokucacile, sase sifikile isikhathi sikaJehova sokubabutha nokubalungiselela ukusinda osizini olukhulu olulapha nje ngaphambili. Njengoba kwabikezelwa, baye baphuma “kuzo zonke izizwe, nemindeni, nabantu, nezilimi.” (IsAmbulo 7:9) Bahlanganyela ngentshiseko emsebenzini uJesu awubikezela lapho ethi: “Lelivangeli lombuso liyakushunyayelwa ezweni lonke, kube-ngubufakazi ezizweni zonke, andukuba kufike ukuphela.”—Mathewu 24:14.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

Iyini Impendulo Yakho?

◻ Kungani umbono wesAmbulo isahluko 7 uthakazelisa ngokukhethekile?

◻ Kungani ezinye izimvu ezikuJohane 10:16 zingalinganiselwe kumaKristu abeZizwe kuphela?

◻ Kumelwe sibe yini isimo salabo abafanelana nencazelo yeBhayibheli yezinye izimvu?

◻ Umfanekiso wezimvu nezimbuzi uyiqokomisa kanjani inhlonipho ngegunya loMbuso?

◻ Yini ebonisa ukuthi safika nini isikhathi sikaJehova sokubutha isixuku esikhulu esikusAmbulo 7:9?