Isahluko 11
Lezi Izinsuku Zokugcina!
1. Kungani abaningi bethanda ukudideka uma becabanga ngesimo sezwe, kodwa ingatholakalaphi incazelo enokwethenjelwa yezenzakalo zezwe?
IZWE lethu eliyaluzayo lafika kanjani kuleli qophelo? Siphokophelephi thina? Wake wayibuza yini imibuzo enjalo? Abaningi bathanda ukudideka lapho bebheka isimo somhlaba. Izenzakalo ezinjengezimpi, izifo, nobugebengu zishiya abantu bezibuza ukuthi kazi ikusasa liphetheni. Abaholi bohulumeni abanikezi themba. Nokho, incazelo enokwethenjelwa yalezi zinsuku ezicindezelayo itholakala kuNkulunkulu naseZwini lakhe. Ngokunokwethenjelwa iBhayibheli lisisiza ukuba sibone ukuthi sikuphi nesikhathi. Lisibonisa ukuthi ‘sisezinsukwini zokugcina’ zesimiso sezinto samanje.—2 Thimothewu 3:1.
2. Yimuphi umbuzo uJesu awubuzwa abafundi bakhe, futhi waphendula kanjani?
2 Ngokwesibonelo, cabangela impendulo uJesu ayinikeza kweminye imibuzo eyayibuzwe abafundi bakhe. Ezinsukwini ezintathu ngaphambi kokuba uJesu afe, bambuza: “Siyoba yini isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakho nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto?”a (Mathewu 24:3) Lapho ephendula, uJesu wakhuluma ngezenzakalo nangezimo ezithile zezwe ezaziyobonisa ngokucacile ukuthi lesi simiso esingamhloniphi uNkulunkulu singené ezinsukwini zaso zokugcina.
3. Kungani izimo zaba zimbi kakhulu emhlabeni lapho uJesu eqala ukubusa?
3 Njengoba kubonisiwe esahlukweni esandulele, indlela yeBhayibheli yokubala izikhathi zezenzakalo iholela esiphethweni sokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu usuqalile kakade ukubusa. Kodwa kungenzeka kanjani lokho? Izinto ziye zaba zimbi kakhulu, azibanga ngcono. Eqinisweni, lokhu kuyinkomba enamandla yokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu usuqalile ukubusa. Kungani kunjalo? IHubo 110:2 lisazisa ukuthi uJesu wayeyobusa ‘phakathi kwezitha zakhe’ okwesikhathi esithile. Ngempela, isenzo sakhe sokuqala njengeNkosi yasezulwini saba ukuphonsa phansi endaweni yasemhlabeni uSathane nezingelosi zakhe ezingamademoni. (IsAmbulo 12:9) Waba yini umphumela? Waba yilokho kanye isAmbulo 12:12 esakubikezela: “Mayé ngomhlaba nangolwandle, ngoba uDeveli wehlele kini, enentukuthelo enkulu, azi ukuthi unenkathi yesikhathi emfushane.” Manje siphila kuleyo “nkathi yesikhathi emfushane.”
4. Yiziphi izici zezinsuku zokugcina, futhi zibonisani? (Bheka ibhokisi.)
4 Ngakho-ke, akumangalisi ukuthi lapho uJesu ebuzwa ukuthi siyoba yini isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto, impendulo yakhe yaba esangulukisayo. Izici ezihlukahlukene zalesi sibonakaliso zitholakala ebhokisini elisekhasini 102. Njengoba ungabona, abaphostoli abangamaKristu uPawulu, uPetru, noJohane basinikeza imininingwane eyengeziwe ngokuqondene nezinsuku zokugcina. Yiqiniso, izici eziningi zalesi sibonakaliso nezezinsuku zokugcina zihilela izimo ezicindezelayo. Nokho, ukugcwaliseka kwalezi ziprofetho kufanele kusenze siqiniseke ukuthi kuseduze ukuphela kwalesi simiso esibi. Ake sihlolisise ezinye zezici eziyinhloko zezinsuku zokugcina.
IZICI ZEZINSUKU ZOKUGCINA
5, 6. Zigcwaliseka kanjani iziprofetho eziphathelene nempi nendlala?
5 “Isizwe siyovukela isizwe nombuso uvukele umbuso.” (Mathewu 24:7; IsAmbulo 6:4) Umlobi u-Ernest Hemingway wabiza iMpi Yezwe I ngokuthi “ukubulala okukhulu ngokwesabekayo, okucekela phansi, nokungenaluzwela kunakho konke okwake kwenzeka emhlabeni.” Ngokwencwadi ethi The World iñ the Crucible—1914-1919, lena “kwakuyimpi esezingeni elisha, impi yokuqala eyahlanganisa indawo yonke emlandweni wesintu. Ubude bayo, ukushuba, nezinga layo kwadlula noma yini eyayaziwa noma eyayilindelwe abaningi.” Kwabe sekulandela iMpi Yezwe II, eyaba ngebhubhisa kakhulu ukudlula iMpi Yezwe I. “Ikhulu lamashumi amabili leminyaka,” kusho uprofesa wezomlando uHugh Thomas, “liye labuswa isibhamu esiwuntuluntulu, umbayimbayi, iB-52, ibhomu lenuzi, futhi okokugcina, isikhali esicitshwayo. Liye laba nezimpi ezinonya nezibhubhisa kakhulu kunezanoma iyiphi enye inkathi.” Yiqiniso, kuningi okwashiwo ngokuncishiswa kwezikhali ngemva kokuphela kweMpi Yomshoshaphansi. Noma kunjalo, omunye umbiko ulinganisela ukuthi ngemva kokuncishiswa kwazo okwahlongozwa kuzosala izingxenye zezikhali zenuzi ezicitshwayo ezingaba ngu-10 000 kuya ku-20 000—okuyizikhali ezicitshwayo eziziphinda izikhathi ezingaphezu kuka-900 ezasetshenziswa phakathi neMpi Yezwe II.
6 “Kuyoba khona ukuswelakala kokudla.” (Mathewu 24:7; IsAmbulo 6:5, 6, 8) Kusukela ngo-1914 sekube nendlala enkulu okungenani izikhathi ezingu-20. Izindawo ezathinteka zihlanganisa neBangladesh, iBurundi, iCambodia, iChina, i-Ethiopia, iGreece, iNdiya, iNigeria, iRussia, iRwanda, iSomalia, neSudañ. Kodwa indlala ayibangelwa ngaso sonke isikhathi ukuntuleka kokudla. “Ukudla okutholakala emhlabeni phakathi namashumi eminyaka amuva kuye kwanda ngokushesha kunenani labantu kuwo,” kuphetha iqembu lezazi zesayensi yezolimo nezazi zezomnotho. “Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi okungenani abantu abayizigidi ezingu-800 bampofu kakhulu, . . . abakwazi ukuthenga okwanele kwaleyo nala okuzobakhipha esimweni sokuhlala bengondlekile.” Kwezinye izimo kuhileleke ukuzigaxa kwezombangazwe. UDkt. Abdelgalil Elmekki wase-University of Toronto ubhekisela ezibonelweni ezimbili lapho izinkulungwane ziye zalamba kuyilapho amazwe akubo ethumela ukudla okuningi kwamanye amazwe. Ohulumeni babebonakala bekhathalela kakhulu ukuthola imali yakwamanye amazwe ukuze baxhase izimpi zabo ngaphezu kokondla izakhamuzi zabo. Uphetha ngokuthini uDkt. Elmekki? Ngokuvamile indlala “iyindaba yokwaba nenqubo kahulumeni.”
7. Ayini amaqiniso ngezifo eziwumshayabhuqe namuhla?
7 “Izifo eziwumshayabhuqe.” (Luka 21:11; IsAmbulo 6:8) Umkhuhlane waseSpaiñ ka-1918-19 wabulala okungenani abantu abayizigidi ezingu-21. “Kuwo wonke umlando izwe lalingakaze lihlaselwe umbulali owabulala abantu abaningi kangako ngokushesha okungako,” kubhala u-A. A. Hoehling kuyi-Great Epidemic. Namuhla, izifo eziwumshayabhuqe ziyabhebhetheka. Unyaka ngamunye, umdlavuza ubulala abantu abayizigidi ezinhlanu, izifo zohudo zibulala izinsana nezingane ezingaphezu kwezigidi ezintathu, futhi isifo sofuba sibulala izigidi ezintathu. Izifo ezithinta umgudu womoya, ikakhulukazi i-pneumonia, unyaka ngamunye zibulala izingane eyizigidi ezingu-3,5 ezingaphansi kweminyaka emihlanu. Futhi inani elishaqisayo labayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-2,5—ingxenye yenani labantu emhlabeni—liphethwe izifo ezibangelwa ukuntuleka noma ukungcola kwamanzi nokungakhucululwa kwendle ngokufanele. Ingculaza ilokhu iyisikhumbuzo sokuthi umuntu, naphezu kwezinto ezibalulekile azifezile kwezokwelapha, akakwazi ukuqeda izifo eziwumshayabhuqe.
8. Abantu babonakala kanjani ‘bengabathandi bemali’?
8 “Abantu bayoba . . . abathandi bemali.” (2 Thimothewu 3:2) Emazweni omhlaba, abantu babonakala benephango elinganeliseki lengcebo eyengeziwe. “Ukuphumelela” ngokuvamile kulinganiswa ngobungako beholo lomuntu, “akufezile” kulinganiswe ngobuningi balokho anakho. “Ukuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo kuyoqhubeka kungesinye sezisusa zomphakathi waseMelika . . . futhi kuyisisusa esiya siba esiyinhloko nakwezinye izimakethe ezinkulu,” kusho isekela likamongameli wenhlangano ekhangisa ngezinto. Kuyenzeka yini lokhu lapho uhlala khona?
9. Yini engase ishiwo ngokungalalelwa kwabazali okwabikezelwa?
9 “Abangalaleli abazali.” (2 Thimothewu 3:2) Abazali banamuhla, othisha, nabanye bangofakazi bokuzibonela bokuthi izingane eziningi azihloniphi futhi azilaleli. Ezinye zalezi zingane zisuke zisabela ekuziphatheni okungafanele kwabazali bazo noma zikulingisa. Izingane eziningi ngokwandayo zilahlekelwa ukwethembela—futhi ziyahlubuka—esikoleni, emthethweni, enkolweni, nakubazali bazo. “Ngokuvamile,” kusho uthisha othile ongumakad’ ebona, “zibonakala zingenanhlonipho nganoma yini.” Nokho, kuyajabulisa ukuthi izingane eziningi ezesaba uNkulunkulu ziziphatha ngendlela eyisibonelo.
10, 11. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona bokuthi abantu banolaka futhi abanakho ukusondelana ngokomzwelo okungokwemvelo?
10 “Abanolaka.” (2 Thimothewu 3:3) Igama lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi “abanolaka” lisho ‘ukuba umdlwembe, ukuntula isihawu nozwela.’ Yeka ukuthi lokhu kubachaza kahle kanjani ababhebhezeli abaningi bobudlova banamuhla! “Ukuphila kucindezela kakhulu, kugcwele izinto ezesabekayo kangangokuba kudinga ube lukhuni njengetshe ukuze ufunde izindaba zansuku zonke,” kusho ingosi yomhleli. Iphoyisa eliqapha isakhiwo sokuhlala laphawula ukuthi intsha eningi ishaya sengathi ayiyiboni imiphumela yezenzo zayo. Lathi: “Inomuzwa wokuthi, ‘Angazi ukuthi ikusasa liphetheni. Engikufunayo ngizokuthola manje.’”
11 “Abangenakho ukusondelana ngokomzwelo okungokwemvelo.” (2 Thimothewu 3:3) Lenkulumo ihunyushwe isuselwa egameni lesiGreki elisho “ukuba nonya, ukungabi nobuntu” nelibonisa “ukuntula ukusondelana ngokomzwelo okungokwemvelo, nokomkhaya.” (The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology) Yebo, ukusondelana ngokomzwelo kuvame ukungabibikho khona kanye endaweni okufanele kuchume kuyo—ikhaya. Imibiko yokuhlukunyezwa kwabangane bomshado, abantwana, ngisho nabazali asebekhulile iye yanda ngendlela ephazamisayo. Iqembu elithile labacwaningi laphawula: “Ubudlova bomuntu—kungaba ukushaya ngempama noma ukusunduza, ukugwaza noma ukudubula—benzeka kakhulu emkhayeni kunanoma iyiphi enye indawo emphakathini wethu.”
12. Kungani kungase kuthiwe abantu banesimo nje sokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu?
12 “Benesimo sokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kodwa bezibonakalisa bengathembekile emandleni ako.” (2 Thimothewu 3:5) IBhayibheli linamandla okushintsha ukuphila kube ngcono. (Efesu 4:22-24) Nokho, abaningi namuhla bacasha ngenkolo yabo lapho benza izenzo ezingalungile ezingamjabulisi uNkulunkulu. Ukuqamba amanga, ukweba, nokuziphatha okubi ngokobulili ngokuvamile abaholi benkolo bayakuthethelela. Izinkolo eziningi zishumayela ngothando kodwa zisekela izimpi. “Egameni loMdali Ophakeme,” kuphawula ingosi yomhleli kumagazini i-India Today, “abantu baye babhebhezela izenzo zobudlova ezinyanyekayo kwezinye izidalwa abakanye nazo.” Eqinisweni, izimpi ezimbili ezachitha igazi kunazo zonke zezikhathi zamuva—iMpi Yezwe I neye-II—zaqubuka phakathi kweLobukholwa.
13. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona bokuthi umhlaba uyachithwa?
13 “Abachitha umhlaba.” (IsAmbulo 11:18) Izazi zesayensi ezingaphezu kuka-1 600, kuhlanganise nabazuza umklomelo kaNobel abangu-104, ezazivela emhlabeni wonke zagunyaza isixwayiso, esasikhishwe i-Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), esasithi: “Abantu nezinto zemvelo baphokophele enhlekeleleni. . . . Sekusele amashumi ambalwa eminyaka ngaphambi kokuba liphele ithuba lokugwema izimo ezikhona ezisongelayo.” Lombiko wathi imikhuba yomuntu esongela ukuphila “ingase ishintshe umhlaba uze ungakwazi ukusekela ukuphila ngendlela esiyaziyo.” Ukuncipha kwe-ozone, ukungcoliswa kwamanzi, ukugawulwa kwamahlathi, ukulahlekelwa komhlabathi amandla okukhiqiza, nokuqothulwa kwezilwane eziningi nezinhlobo zezitshalo kwabhekiselwa kukho njengezinkinga eziphuthumayo okumelwe zisingathwe. “Ukuphazamisa kwethu isimiso sokuphila esinezici eziphelelisanayo,” kusho i-UCS, “kungabangela imiphumela esabalele, kuhlanganise nokuwohloka kwezimiso zezinto eziphilayo ezizinqubo zazo asiziqondi ngokuphelele.”
14. Ungakufakazela kanjani ukuthi uMathewu 24:14 uyagcwaliseka osukwini lwethu?
14 “Lezizindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiweyo.” (Mathewu 24:14) UJesu wabikezela ukuthi izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso zaziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni kabanzi, kube ubufakazi kuzo zonke izizwe. Ngosizo nangesibusiso saphezulu, izigidi zoFakazi BakaJehova zinikela ngezinkulungwane zezigidi zamahora kulomsebenzi wokushumayela nokwenza abafundi. (Mathewu 28:19, 20) Yebo, oFakazi bayaqaphela ukuthi bebeyokuba necala legazi ukuba bebengazimemezeli lezi zindaba ezinhle. (Hezekeli 3:18, 19) Kodwa bayajabula ngokuthi unyaka ngamunye izinkulungwane zisabela ngokwazisa esigijimini soMbuso futhi zithathe ukuma kwazo njengamaKristu eqiniso, okusho ukuthi, njengoFakazi BakaJehova. Kuyilungelo elingenakuqhathaniswa ukukhonza uJehova futhi kanjalo usakaze ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu. Futhi ngemva kokuba lezi zindaba ezinhle zishunyayelwe kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiweyo, ukuphela kwalesi simiso esibi kuyofika.
SABELA EBUFAKAZINI
15. Siyophela kanjani isimiso esibi samanje?
15 Siyophela kanjani lesi simiso? IBhayibheli libikezela ‘ngosizi olukhulu’ oluyoqala ngokuba imibuso yezwe yezombangazwe ihlasele “iBabiloni Elikhulu,” umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. (Mathewu 24:21; IsAmbulo 17:5, 16) UJesu wathi phakathi nalenkathi ‘ilanga laliyokwenziwa libe mnyama, futhi inyanga ingakunikezi ukukhanya kwayo, futhi izinkanyezi ziwe ezulwini, namandla amazulu anyakaziswe.’ (Mathewu 24:29) Lokhu kungenzeka kusho izenzakalo ezingokoqobo esibhakabhakeni. Kunoma yikuphi, abavelele enkolweni bayodalulwa futhi baqothulwe. Khona-ke uSathane, obizwa ngokuthi ‘uGogi wezwe lakwaMagogi,’ uyosebenzisa abantu abonakele ukuze ahlasele abantu bakaJehova ngawo wonke amandla akhe. Kodwa uSathane ngeke aphumelele, ngoba uNkulunkulu uyobasindisa. (Hezekeli 38:1, 2, 14-23) “Usizi olukhulu” luyofinyelela umvuthwandaba walo e-Armagedoni, ‘impi yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke.’ Iyosusa umnonjana wokugcina wenhlangano kaSathane yasemhlabeni, icabe indlela yokuba izibusiso ezingenakuphela zigelezele esintwini esiyobe sisindile.—IsAmbulo 7:9, 14; 11:15; 16:14, 16; 21:3, 4.
16. Sazi kanjani ukuthi izici okwaprofethwa ngazo zezinsuku zokugcina zisebenza esikhathini sethu?
16 Uma isici ngasinye seziprofetho ezichaza izinsuku zokugcina sizimele sodwa, singase sibonakale sisebenza kwezinye izinkathi zomlando. Kodwa uma sezizonke, izibonakaliso okwaprofethwa ngazo zikhomba osukwini lwethu. Ngokwesibonelo: Imigqa yeminwe yomuntu yakha umklamo ongenakuba owomunye umuntu. Ngokufanayo, izinsuku zokugcina zinomklamo wazo siqu wezimpawu, noma izenzakalo. Lezi zimpawu zakha “imigqa yeminwe” engenakuba eyanoma iyiphi enye inkathi yesikhathi. Lapho bucatshangelwa nezinkomba ezinikezwa iBhayibheli zokuthi uMbuso wasezulwini kaNkulunkulu usuyabusa, ubufakazi bunikeza isisekelo esiqinile sokuphetha ngokuthi ngempela lezi izinsuku zokugcina. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kunobufakazi obusobala obungokomBhalo bokuthi isimiso esibi samanje sizobhujiswa maduze.
17. Ukwazi ukuthi lezi izinsuku zokugcina kufanele kusishukumisele ukuba senzeni?
17 Uzosabela kanjani ebufakazini bokuthi lezi izinsuku zokugcina? Cabangela lokhu: Uma kuza isiphepho esibhubhisa ngokwesabekayo, sithatha izinyathelo zokuphepha ngaphandle kokulibala. Lokho iBhayibheli elikubikezela ngalesi simiso samanje kufanele kusishukumisele esenzweni. (Mathewu 16:1-3) Singabona ngokucacile ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina zalesi simiso sezwe. Lokhu kufanele kusishukumisele ukuba senze noma yiziphi izinguquko ezidingekayo ukuze sithole umusa kaNkulunkulu. (2 Petru 3:3, 10-12) Ebhekisela kuye njengenxusa lensindiso, uJesu ukhipha isimemezelo esiphuthumayo: “Zinakeni ukuba izinhliziyo zenu zingalokothi zisindwe ukuminza nokuphuza kakhulu nezinkathazo zokuphila, futhi ngokungazelelwe lolosuku lufike phezu kwenu ngaso lesosikhathi njengogibe. Ngoba luyofika phezu kwabo bonke labo abahlala phezu kobuso bomhlaba wonke. Khona-ke, hlalani niphapheme, ngaso sonke isikhathi ninxusa ukuba niphumelele ekuphunyukeni kuzo zonke lezizinto ezimiselwe ukuba zenzeke, nasekumeni phambi kweNdodana yomuntu.”—Luka 21:34-36.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Amanye amaBhayibheli asebenzisa igama elithi “izwe” esikhundleni sokuthi “isimiso sezinto.” I-Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words kaW. E. Vine ithi igama lesiGreki elithi ai·onʹ “lisho inkathi yesikhathi enganqunyiwe, noma isikhathi esibhekwa ngokwalokho okwenzeka ngaleyo nkathi.” I-Greek and English Lexicon te the New Testament kaParkhurst (ikhasi 17) ihlanganisa nenkulumo ethi “lesi simiso sezinto” lapho ikhuluma ngokusetshenziswa kwelithi ai·oʹnes (ubuningi) kumaHeberu 1:2. Ngakho ukuhumusha okuthi “isimiso sezinto” kuvumelana nombhalo wesiGreki wakuqala.
HLOLA ULWAZI LWAKHO
IBhayibheli labikezela ukuthi kuyokwenzekani emhlabeni lapho kuqala ukubusa kukaKristu?
Yiziphi ezinye izici zezinsuku zokugcina?
Yini ekwenza uqiniseke ukuthi lezi izinsuku zokugcina?
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 102]
IZICI ZEZINSUKU ZOKUGCINA
• Izimpi zezinga elingakaze libonwe.—Mathewu 24:7; IsAmbulo 6:4.
• Indlala.—Mathewu 24:7; IsAmbulo 6:5, 6, 8.
• Izifo eziwumshayabhuqe.—Luka 21:11; IsAmbulo 6:8.
• Ukwanda kokungabi namthetho.—Mathewu 24:12.
• Ukuchitha umhlaba.—IsAmbulo 11:18.
• Ukuzamazama komhlaba.—Mathewu 24:7.
• Izikhathi ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo.—2 Thimothewu 3:1.
• Uthando lwemali olwedlulele.—2 Thimothewu 3:2.
• Ukungalaleli abazali.—2 Thimothewu 3:2.
• Ukuntuleka kokusondelana ngokomzwelo okungokwemvelo.—2 Thimothewu 3:3.
• Ukuthanda injabulo kunokuthanda uNkulunkulu.—2 Thimothewu 3:4.
• Ukuntuleka kokuzithiba.—2 Thimothewu 3:3.
• Ukungathandi okuhle.—2 Thimothewu 3:3.
• Ukunganaki ingozi ezayo.—Mathewu 24:39.
c• Abahleki bosulu baphika ubufakazi bezinsuku zokugcina.—2 Petru 3:3, 4.
• Ukushumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu embulungeni yonke.—Mathewu 24:14.
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 101]