Chapter 3

Isimiso Samanje Siyoqhubeka Isikhathi Eside Kangakanani?

1. Ngokuqondene nezithembiso zeBhayibheli, yini abaningi bethu abaye bayibuza?

KUNGOKWEMVELO ukufuna ukwazi ukuthi kuyoba isikhathi eside kangakanani ngaphambi kokuba kwenzeke izenzakalo eziyophela ngeArmagedoni nezichazwe ngokusobala eBhayibhelini. Isimiso samanje sezinto siyobhujiswa nini? Ingabe siyophila size sibone umhlaba uba indawo lapho abathanda ukulunga bengajabulela khona ukuphila okuphelele nokulondeka?

2. (a) Imuphi umbuzo ofanayo abaphostoli bakaJesu abawubuza? (b) Ingabe siyazi ngokuqondile ukuthi isimiso samanje sezinto siyophela nini? (c) Kodwa ikuphi ukwaziswa okuwusizo kakhulu uJesu akunikeza?

² UJesu Kristu wanikeza imininingwane ephawulekayo ephendula leyomibuzo. Wenza kanjalo lapho abaphostoli bakhe bebuza: “Nesibonakaliso sokuza kwakho nesokuphela kwezwe siyakuba yini na?” Ngokuqondene nokubhujiswa koqobo kwesimiso esibi samanje sezinto, uJesu washo ngokusobala: “Lolosuku nalelohora akakho owazi-lutho ngalo nazingelosi zasezulwini, naNdodana, nguBaba kuphela.” (Mathewu 24:3, 36) Nokho wasichaza ngokuningiliziwe isizukulwane esasiyobona “isiphelo [ngesiGreki: syn·teʹlei·a] sezinto,” okuyinkathi eyoholela ‘ekupheleni [ngesiGreki: teʹlos].’ Zifundele ngokwakho eBhayibhelini lakho kuMathewu 24:3–25:46, nasekulandiseni okufanayo kuMarku 13:4-37 noLuka 21:7-36.

3. Sazi kanjani ukuthi impendulo kaJesu yayingachazi nje kuphela izenzakalo zekhulu lokuqala?

³ Lapho ufunda lokhukulandisa, uyoqaphela ukuthi, ngokwengxenye kuphela, uJesu wayechaza izenzakalo eziholela futhi zihlanganise ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema nethempeli lalo ngo-70 C.E. Kusobala ukuthi wayecabanga futhi ngokuthile okufinyelela kude. Ngani? Ngoba kuMathewu 24:21 ukhuluma ‘ngosizi olukhulu olungazange lube khona kwasekuqaleni kwezwe kuze kube manje nolungasayikuba khona.’ Lokho kusho okungaphezu nje kokubhujiswa kwedolobha elilodwa nabantu abahileleke kulo. Futhi kuLuka 21:31 izenzakalo ezichazwayo kuthiwa zikhomba ekuzeni ‘kombuso kaNkulunkulu’ osekukudala ulindelwe. Siyini “isibonakaliso” esiphawulekayo uJesu athi siqashelwe?

ISIBONAKALISO ESIHLANGENE

4. Siyini “isibonakaliso” esanikezwa uJesu?

⁴ Wabikezela ngezimpi, ukuntuleka kokudla, izifo ezidlangile, ukuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu, nomoya wokungabi naluthando ngesikhathi sokwanda kokungabi namthetho, kodwa akukho kulokhu ‘okuyisibonakaliso’ kukodwa. Zonke izici ezabikezelwa kumelwe zigcwaliseke ngesikhathi sesizukulwane esisodwa ukuze isibonakaliso sibe ngesiphelele. Okuhlanganisiwe futhi, kwakuyoba ‘usizi lwezizwe, zixakeke . . . abantu baphele amandla ngokwesaba’ ngenxa yezenzakalo ezenzeka emazulwini phezulu nasezilwandle ezibazungezile. (Luka 21:10, 11, 25-32; Mathewu 24:12; qhathanisa no-2 Thimothewu 3:1-5.) Ngokuphambene nakho konke lokhu, kodwa okuyingxenye yesibonakaliso, uJesu wabikezela ngokushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu embulungeni yonke naphezu kokushushiswa kwabalandeli bakhe emhlabeni wonke. (Marku 13:9-13) Ingabe leyoncazelo ehlangene ifanelana ngokuqondile nesikhathi esiphila kuso?

5. Yini eyayiyokwenza lezizenzakalo zingabi nje ukuphindwa komlando?

⁵ Abahleka usulu bangase bahleke, bathi ziye zaba khona izimpi, indlala, ukuzamazama komhlaba, njalonjalo, ngokuphindaphindiwe emlandweni wesintu. Kepha izenzakalo ezinjalo zinokubaluleka okukhethekile uma zonke zenzeka kanye kanye, hhayi nje ezindaweni ezimbalwa ezihlukene, kodwa ngesilinganiso sembulunga yonke phakathi nenkathi ethile yesikhathi eqala ngonyaka owabikezelwa kudala ngaphambili.

6, 7. Iziphi izenzakalo nezimo zekhulu lama-20 ezifana ncamashí nalesosibonakaliso esihlangene? (Uma uphendula, sebenzisa iBhayibheli lakho ubonise ukuthi iziphi izingxenye zesiprofetho sikaJesu ozikhulumelayo.)

⁶ Cabangela lamaqiniso: Impi eyagqashuka ngo-1914 yayinkulu kangangokuthi yaziwa njengempi yezwe yokuqala, futhi kusukela lapho ukuthula akubonaze kubuye ngempela emhlabeni. Ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I kwafika enye yendlala enkulu kakhulu isintu esake sabhekana nayo, futhi ngisho nanamuhla abantu abayizi-40 000 000 unyakangamunye bayafa ngenxa yokuntuleka kokudla. Umkhuhlane waseSpain ka-1918 wabulala abantu ngezinga elingenakulinganiswa emlandweni wezifo, futhi naphezu kokucwaninga kwezesayensi, amashumi ezigidi zabantu ngisho kwamanje akhathazwa umdlavuza, isifo senhliziyo, izifo ezesabekayo zokubhajwa, umalaleveva, umkhuhlane obangelwa yiminenke nobumpumputhe obubangelwa imifula. Ukuphindaphindeka kokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu kuye kwanda kwafinyelela izikhathi ezingama-20 kunalokho okwakuyikho ngokwesilinganiso eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane ezimbili ngaphambi kuka-1914. Ukwesaba nosizi ezingeni lembulunga yonke kuhlupha abantu babo bonke ubudala. Phakathi kwezizathu kuneziyaluyalu zezomnotho, ubugebengu bobudlova nokusongelwa kokuqothulwa empini yenyukliya ngezikhali ezicitshwa imikhumbi-ngwenya noma ezitshuza zivela emkhathini—into eyayingenakwenzeka nhlobo ngaphambi kwalelikhulu lama-20.

⁷ Phakathi nakho konke lokhu, ukumenyezelwa okungavamile kwezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni wonke kuyenziwa, njengoba uJesu abikezela. Emazweni afinyelela kuma-200 kanye neziqhingi zolwandle, oFakazi BakaJehova banikela amakhulu ezigidi zamahora unyaka ngamunye, mahhala, ukuba basize abantu bazo zonke izindlela zokuphila ukuba baqonde okushiwo yilezizenzakalo zezwe ngokukhanyiselwa yiZwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngobuqotho oFakazi bakhomba abantu endleleni yokusinda “osizini olukhulu” njengezikhonzi zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Futhi oFakazi lokhu bakwenza naphezu kweqiniso lokuthi, njengoba omunye umbiko wezindaba eCanada waphawula, “cishe babekezelela ukushushiswa okukhulu ngamacala amancane kunanoma iliphi iqembu lenkolo emhlabeni.”

8. Iyiphi inkathi yesikhathi eyayihlanganisiwe futhi kulesiprofetho?

⁸ Kumelwe futhi sicabangele ukuthi, njengengxenye yesiprofetho sakhe, uJesu wakhomba ekupheleni kwenkathi ethile yesikhathi, ethi: “IJerusalema liyakunyathelelwa phansi ngabezizwe, kuze kugcwaliseke izikhathi zabezizwe.” (Luka 21:24) Ingabe lezo“zikhathi zabezizwe” seziphelile?

“IZIKHATHI EZIMISIWE”

9. (a) Iliphi “iJerusalema” ‘elanyathelwa phansi’ ngabezizwe? (b) Lokho “kunyathelwa” kwaqala nini?

⁹ Ukuze sibone impendulo, kumelwe siqonde ukubaluleka kweJerusalema ngokwalo. Lomuzi onekomkhulu lawo eNtabeni iSiyoni kwakhulunywa ngawo ngokuthi “umuzi weNkosi enkulu . . . emzini kaJehova.” (IHubo 48:2, 8; Mathewu 5:34, 35) Amakhosi endlu yobukhosi kaDavide kwakuthiwa ahleli “esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaJehova.” Ngakho iJerusalema laliyisibonakaliso esibonakalayo sokuthi uJehova wayebusa emhlabeni. (1 IziKronike 29:23) Ngakho lapho amabutho aseBabiloni evunyelwa uNkulunkulu ukuba abhubhise iJerusalema, athumbe inkosi yalo nezwe alishiye liyincithakalo, ayenyathela phansi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu owawubusa ngozalo lobukhosi lweNkosi uDavide. Uma lokhu kwenzeka, ngo-607 B.C.E., kwaphawula ukuqala ‘kwezikhathi ezimisiwe zabezizwe.’ Kusukela lapho akuphindange futhi kwenzeke ukuba owozalo lukaDavide abuse njengenkosi eJerusalema.

10. (a) Ukuphela kwalokho ‘kunyathela’ kwakuyosho ukuthini? (b) Khona-ke uJesu wayeyobusa ekuliphi “iJerusalema,” futhi ngani?

¹⁰ Khona-ke, kwakuyosho ukuthini ukuphela ‘kokunyathelwa kweJerusalema’? Kwakuyosho ukuthi uJehova usephinde wabeka inkosi ayikhethileyo esihlalweni sobukhosi, engeyozalo lukaDavide, ukuba manje ibuse, hhayi kuphela phakathi kwamaJuda, kodwa ezindabeni zesintu sisonke. Leyo-ke iNkosi uJesu Kristu. (Luka 1:30-33) Kodwa wayezobusa ekuphi? Ingabe wayeyobe esemzini waseJerusalema emhlabeni? UJesu waphawula ngokukhanyayo ukuthi amalungelo ngokuqondene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu ayezosuswa kuIsrayeli wenyama. (Mathewu 21:43; bheka futhi 23:37, 38.) Ngemva kwalokho, abakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu weqiniso babheka “iJerusalema eliphezulu,” inhlangano kaNkulunkulu engokwasezulwini yezidalwa ezithembekile zomoya, njengomame wabo. (Galathiya 4:26) Kwakuyoba kuleloJerusalema lasezulwini uJesu ayeyobekwa kulo esihlalweni sobukhosi, ukuba abuse umhlaba. (IHubo 110:1, 2) Lokho kwakuyokwenzeka ekupheleni ‘kwezikhathi ezimisiwe zabezizwe.’ Kwakuyoba nini lokho?

11, neshadi (ekhasini 27). (a) Ukuphela ‘kwezikhathi ezimisiwe’ kubalwa kanjani? (b) Ngakho-ke, yini eyaqala uma ‘lezozikhathi’ ziphela? (c) Izazi zomlando zimbheka kanjani u-1914? (Bheka ikhasi 29.)

¹¹ Emashumini amaningi eminyaka ngaphambili kwakwaziwa ukuthi lokho kwakuyofika ngo-1914 ekupheleni kokugcwaliseka okukhulu ‘kwezikhathi eziyisikhombisa’ zikaDaniyeli 4:10-17.a Kodwa ukuqondwa okuphelele kokubaluleka kwako kwafika kancane kancane ngeminyaka eyalandela. Kancane kancane abafundi beBhayibheli babona kuvuleka emehlweni abo imininingwane yesibonakaliso esihlangene uJesu athi sasiyobonisa ukuba-khona kwakhe kwasezulwini emandleni oMbuso. Kwaba sobala ukuthi, ngempela, babengene ‘esiphelweni sesimiso sezinto,’ ukuthi uKristu wayeseqale ukubusa njengeNkosi ngo-1914 nokuthi ukuphela kwalelizwe elibi kwakuzofika phakathi nesizukulwane esabona ukuqala kwalezizinto.

AQINISEKE KANGAKANANI AMATHEMBA AKHO?

12. Yimaphi amathemba angaqondile enza lesisiphetho kube nzima ngabanye ukusamukela? (Mathewu 24:26, 27; Johane 14:3, 19)

¹² Abanye abawaziyo lamaqiniso agcwalisa isiprofetho sikaJesu bakuthola kunzima ukwamukela isiphetho akhomba kuso. Ngani? Ngenxa yokuthi balindele okuthile okuhlukile. Bafundiswa ukuthi ukuza kukaKristu kwesibili kuyobonakala futhi kuyophumela ekuphendukeni kwabantu abaningi. Nasekhulwini lokuqala amaJuda ayenamathemba angazange agcwaliseke. Ayenethemba lokuthi ukuza kukaMesiya kwakuyoba ukubonakaliswa kwamandla okwakuyowakhulula ngaphansi kwamaRoma. Ngokunamathela kulawomathemba awo angaqondile, ayiphika iNdodana kaNkulunkulu. Yeka ukuthi kungaba okungahlakaniphile kangakanani ukuphinda lelophutha uma uKristu esekhona emandleni oMbuso! Yeka ukuthi kungcono kangakanani ukubona lokho imiBhalo ngokwayo ekushoyo ngempela!

13. Iziphi izenzakalo iBhayibheli ngokwalo elizihlanganisa nokuba khona kukaKristu?

¹³ IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi uKristu wayeyoqala ukubusa phakathi kwezitha zakhe. (IHubo 110:1, 2) Lisitshela ngokuxoshwa kukaSathane namademoni akhe ezulwini bephonselwa emhlabeni ngemva kokuba uKristu enikezwe igunya loMbuso; ngakho kwakuyoba nesikhathi sawomaye abangaphezulu emhlabeni. (IsAmbulo 12:7-12) Phakathi nalesosikhathi kwakuyoba nokwanda kokushunyayelwa kwesigijimi soMbuso, ukuze kunikezwe abantu ithuba lokuthatha isinyathelo benombono wokusinda. (Mathewu 24:14; IsAmbulo 12:17) Kodwa ingabe lokho kwakuyophumela ekuphendukeni kwezwe lonke? Ngokuphambene, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi kwakuyolandelwa imbubhiso engenakulinganiswa emlandweni wesintu. Nakuba abantu bengeke bambone uJesu Kristu okhazinyulisiwe ngamehlo enyama, bonke abangazange bawamukele ngokuzithandela amaqiniso aphathelene nokuba khona kukaKristu eMbusweni bayophoqeleleka ukuba “babone” ukuthi uyena oletha leyombubhiso phezu kwabo, njengoba kwabikezelwa.—IsAmbulo 1:7; Mathewu 24:30; qhathanisa no-1 Thimothewu 6:15, 16; Johane 14:19.

14, 15. Kungani ukudlula kweminyaka kusukela ngo-1914 kunganikezi isizathu sokungabaza ukuthi ngempela ‘sisezinsukwini zokugcina’?

¹⁴ Kodwa ingabe ukudlula kweminyaka engama-70 manje kusukela ngo-1914 akubonisi ukuthi kungase kube nokungabaza ngokuthi ingabe ngempela besikuzo ‘izinsuku zokugcina’ kusukela ngalowonyaka nokungabaza ukuthi ukuza kukaKristu njengomphindiseli kuseduze? Lutho neze! Ngokuqondene nalabo ababeyobona ukugcwaliseka ‘kwesibonakaliso’ kusukela ekuqaleni kwaso, kuqala ngo-1914, uJesu wathi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Lesisizukulwane asiyikudlula, kungakenzeki konke lokhu.” (Marku 13:30) Amalungu alelosizukulwane asekhona, nakuba encipha ngokushesha ngenani.

¹⁵ Kuyiqiniso ukuthi izibalo zibonisa ukuthi isilinganiso sobude bokuphila ngokwesilinganiso somhlaba manje siyiminyaka engama-60 kuphela, kodwa izigidi zabantu ziphila ngaphezu kwalokho. Ngokwezibalo ezikhona, ngo-1980, cishe izi-250 000 000 zalabo ababephila ngo-1914 zazisaphila. Lesosizukulwane asikapheli. Nokho, ngokuthakazelisayo, kulabo abazalwa ngo-1900 noma ngaphambili, izibalo ezakhishwa yiUnited Nations zibonisa ukuthi kuphela abalinganiselwa ezi-35 316 000 ababesaphila ngo-1980. Ngakho lelinani lehla ngokushesha njengoba abantu befinyelela eminyakeni engamashumi ayisikhombisa nayisishiyagalombili. Uma ecatshangelwa kanye nemininingwane yesibonakaliso sikaJesu esingokwesiprofetho, lamaqiniso abonisa ngokunamandla ukuthi ukuphela kuseduze.—Luka 21:28.

16. Ngakho-ke, isimo sethu kumelwe sibe yini?

¹⁶ Manje akusona isikhathi sokunganaki. Isikhathi sokuthatha isinyathelo esiphuthumayo! Njengoba uJesu axwayisa abalandeli bakhe: “Hlalani nilungele, ngokuba iNdodana yomuntu [uJesu Kristu] iyakufika ngesikhathi eningasicabangiyo.”—Mathewu 24:44.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 29]

Indlela Izazi Zomlando Ezibheka Ngayo U-1914

Ngezizathu ezinhle, impi eyaqala ngo-1914 iye yabizwa ngokuthi iMpi Enkulu nokuthi iMpi Yezwe I. Ayikho impi ebhubhisa kanjalo eyake yalwiwa ngaphambili. Izimpi kusukela lapho ziye nje zaqhubeka nalokho okwaqala ngo-1914. Cabangela lezinkulumo ngemiphumela yalowonyaka owundab’ izekwayo:

● “Akukhona nje kuphela ukuthi impi yaguqula ibalazwe laseYurophu yaqalisa ukuvukela okwabhubhisa imibuso emithathu, kodwa imiphumela yayo eqondile nengaqondile yaba ngaphezu kwalokho cishe kukho konke. Ngemva kwempi kokubili abezombangazwe nabanye bazama ukunciphisa noma ukumisa uguquko babuyisele izinto esimweni ‘esivamile’ futhi, kube yizwe elalikhona ngaphambi kuka-1914. Kodwa lokho kwakungenakwenzeka. Ukuzamazama komhlaba kwakunobudlova futhi kukude kangangokuthi izwe langaphambili laliwohloke kwaze kwafika ezisekelweni zalo. Akekho owayengabuye alakhe libe yindlela elaliyiyo, ngezimiso zalo zenhlalo, imibono yalo nezimiso zalo zokuziphatha.

“. . . Okubalulekile kwakuwushintsho lwezindinganiso olwase lwenzekile futhi lwamisa isimiso esisha ngokuphelele sezindinganiso ezingxenyeni eziningi. . . . Kwakungewona kuphela amabutho ayesempini ayenonya futhi enganaki ngempahla kamakhelwane. Akukhona kuphela ukuthi ukuzikhohlisa okuningi, inzondo enkulu namagugu amaningi amanga kwakuphelile kodwa neziningi izindinganiso zesizwe zokuphila nezokuziphatha kwezenhlalo. Umbono wokubaluleka kwezinto wawushintsha, yonke into yabonakala inyamalala, njengokungathi izinto zazingasagxilile—kwakungokufanayo esimisweni sezezimali kanye nokuziphatha kobulili, izimiso zezombangazwe kanye nemithetho yobuciko. . . .

“Ukungalondeki okuyisisekelo okwakugcwele kulesosikhathi kwaphawulwa ngokukhethekile kwezomnotho. Lapha impi yayibhubhisa isimiso esiyinkimbinkimbi, esivumelana nezimo nesilinganiselwe sinemithetho eqinile namagugu angokoqobo. . . . Ngisho nalapha kwakungenakwenzeka ukubuyela ‘kokuvamile.’”—Världshistoria—Folkens liv och Kultur (Stockholm; 1958), Umq. VII amakhasi 421, 422.

● “Sekuphele ingxenye yekhulu leminyaka, kodwa uphawu olwashiywa usizi lweMpi Enkulu emzimbeni nomphefumulo wezizwe alukakapheli . . . Ubunzima obungokwenyama nobokuziphatha obabangelwa yilolusizi babungobokuthi akukho lutho olwasala olwalusafana nakuqala. Umphakathi uwonke: izimiso zohulumeni, imincele yezizwe, imithetho, amabutho, ubuhlobo bemibuso, kodwa futhi nenhlalo, ukuphila kwemikhaya, ingcebo, izikhundla, ubuhlobo babantu—yonke into yashintsha ngokuphelele. . . . isintu ekugcineni salahlekelwa ukulinganisela kwaso, futhi asibonaze sibuye sikuthole kuze kube namuhla.’’—General Charles de Gaulle, ekhuluma ngo-1968 (Le Monde, November 12, 1968).

● “Kusukela ngo-1914, wonke umuntu oqaphela izimo ezisemhlabeni uye wakhathazeka kakhulu yilokho okuye kwabonakala kuwuhambo olunqunywe ngaphambili oluya engozini enkulu nangaphezulu. Abantu abaningi baye baba nomuzwa wokuthi akukho okungenziwa ekuguquleni lendlela eya ekubhujisweni. Babona isintu, sinjengeqhawe lenganekwane yamaGreki, siqhutshwa onkulunkulu abathukuthele, kungasekhona ukudalelwa.”—Bertrand Russell, New York Times Magazine, September 27, 1953.

● “Uma sibuka emuva sikulesikhathi esikuso sibona ngokukhanyayo namuhla ukuthi ukugqashuka kweMpi Yezwe I kwangenisa ekhulwini lamashumi amabili ‘Isikhathi Sezinkathazo’—ngokwamazwi achazayo esazi-mlando saseBrithani uArnold Toynbee—leso impucuko yethu engakaphumi neze kuso. Ngokuqondile noma ngokungaqondile yonke imihelo yengxenye yokugcina yekhulu leminyaka isukela emuva ku-1914.”—The Fall of the Dynasties: The Collapse of the Old Order (New York; 1963), nguEdmond Taylor, ikhasi 16.

Kodwa yini ebangela ukuguquka kwezimo okuhlasimulisa izwe?

IBhayibheli kuphela elinikeza incazelo eyanelisayo.

[Ishadi ekhasini 27]

1914—Unyaka Owaphawulwa Ukubalwa Kwezikhathi NgokweBhayibheli Nezenzakalo Zezwe

Ukubalwa Kwezikhathi

→ Ukuphela ‘kwezikhathi eziyisikhombisa’: 1914 C.E.

Kwaqala izinsuku zokugcina (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5)

Izenzakalo Ezabikezelwa Eziphawula Izinsuku Zokugcina

→ Indlala (Manje ethatha ukuphila okuyizi-40 000 000 ngonyaka)

Izwe lamanje elibi lizobhujiswa uNkulunkulu ngaphambi kokuba isizukulwane esabona u-1914 sidlule (Mathewu 24:3-34; Luka 21:7-32)