Isahluko 7
Ukubhujiswa Kwezwe Okwabikezelwa Kuyofika Nini?
YEKA ukuthi kungaba yimpumuzo kanjani ukubona impi, ubugebengu, nokungcola komhlaba sekuqediwe! Yeka indlela obekungathokozisa ngayo ukuphila ngaphansi kokuphatha okulunge ngempela, lapho kungaba nokulondeka okugcwele komuntu siqu nokomkhaya wakhe! IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyozenza zibe ngokoqobo lezizinto. Kodwa nini?
2 Ngokuqondene nokubhujiswa kwezwe okuvula indlela yoHlelo Olusha lukaNkulunkulu, umphostoli uPawulu uthi: “Usuku lweNkosi [uJehova] luza njengesela ebusuku.” Uyanezela: “Kepha nina-bazalwane anikho ebumnyameni, ukuze lolosuku lunifice njengesela.” (1 Thesalonika 5:2, 4) Ngakho-ke lapho ‘usuku lukaJehova’ lufika, labo abahluleka ukugcina izixwayiso bayofana nezilwane ezibanjwe ogibeni zingazelele. Kodwa lokho akumelwe kwenzeke kuwe. Njengoba umbhalo uphawula, kunabantu ‘abangekho ebumnyameni.’ Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi bayakuhlolisisa futhi bakuthathe ngokungathi sína okushiwo yiZwi likaNkulunkulu mayelana nosuku lwethu.—Luka 21:34-36.
3 IBhayibheli lizichaza ngokukhanyayo izenzakalo zalelikhulu lama-20. Kodwa lokhu lakwenza eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane ezimbili ngaphambili! Lapho ezinye izenzakalo ngokwazo zingezaziwayo, iBhayibheli kuphela elikhomba ukubaluleka kwazo okugcwele.
4 Ukwaziswa okungokwesiprofetho eBhayibhelini mayelana nosuku lwethu kunemininingwane elandelayo: (1) Unyaka oqondile lapho uNkulunkulu eyonikeza “imibuso yabantu” kulowo “amthandayo.” (2) Izenzakalo ezibalulekile ezaziyokwenzeka phakathi nenkathi eyaziwa ngokuthi “isiphelo salesimiso sezinto.” (3) Izenzakalo ezingokwenkolo eziphawuleka ngalesosikhathi. (4) Ukusinda okungenani kwabathile besizukulwane esabona ukuqala ‘kwesiphelo salesimiso sezinto.’ (5) Isehlakalo esithusayo ezindabeni zezwe njengesibonakaliso sokugcina sokuthi ukubhujiswa kwezwe kuseduze. Ake siwahlole lamaphuzu.
(1) Unyaka Ophawuliwe—U-1914 C.E.
5 Emuva kangango-1876, oFakazi BakaJehova baqaphela ukuthi isiprofetho seBhayibheli saphawula unyaka ka-1914 C.E. njengesikhathi lapho izenzakalo ezinkulu ezaziyoba nemiphumela efinyelela kude ezindabeni zesintu zaziyokwenzeka khona. Isizathu salokho basimemezela kabanzi.
6 Uma uvula iBhayibheli lakho kuDaniyeli isahluko 4, uyothola isiprofetho esembula injongo kaNkulunkulu ngokuqondene nokubuswa komhlaba. Injongo yokugcwaliseka kwalesosiprofetho iphawulwe njengewukuba “abaphilayo bazi ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ayinike amthandayo.” (Dan 4 Amavesi 2, 3, 17) Lona “amthandayo” oPhezukonke amnikeza “umbuso” unguKristu Jesu. Futhi incwadi yokugcina yeBhayibheli isitshela ngesikhathi lapho “umbuso wezwe” unikezwa yena njengeNkosi yasezulwini. (IsAmbulo 11:15; 12:10) Khona-ke, lokhu kusho ukuthi isiprofetho sikaDaniyeli siphathelene nesikhathi lapho uNkulunkulu eyongenela ezindabeni zesintu ngokunikeza “umbuso wezwe” kuJesu Kristu. Isiprofetho sibonisa ukuthi lokho kuyoba nini?
7 Iphupho elingokwesiprofetho kuDaniyeli lichaza umuthi omkhulu owagawulelwa phansi waboshwa ngensimbi nethusi kwaze kwadlula “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa.” Phakathi nalesosikhathi, wawuzonikezwa “inhliziyo yesilwane.” (Daniyeli 4:10-16) Kwakusho ukuthini lokhu? UNkulunkulu wabangela uDaniyeli ukuba achaze: UNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabiloni, wayezolahlekelwa ingqondo asuswe esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi futhi asuswe phakathi kwabantu ayophila njengesilwane. Ngemva kweminyaka eyisikhombisa ingqondo yenkosi yayizobuya. Lokhu kwenzeka ngokoqobo enkosini, futhi yabuyiselwa esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi njengalowo owavuma ubukhulu bokubusa kukaNkulunkulu. (Daniyeli 4:20-37) Nokho, konke lokhu kwakunencazelo engaphezulu, futhi ngenxa yalesosizathu kulotshiwe eBhayibhelini.
8 Lencazelo engaphezulu iphathelene nokubusa okukhulu okuyozuzisa zonke izinto eziphilayo emhlabeni. Isiprofetho sithi, kuyoba-khona “ukudla kubo bonke” nesivikelo ngisho nesezilwane nezinyoni. (Daniyeli 4:12) Okuwukuphela kokubusa okunganikeza lezinzuzo ngempela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Izimiso ezilungileyo zalohulumeni zaboniswa umlando kaJuda, namakhosi akhe eJerusalema. Kodwa ngenxa yokungathembeki, uJehova wavumela uJuda ukuba anqotshwe yiBabiloni ngo-607 B.C.E. Kwakunjengokungathi umuthi wephupho uye wagawulwa isiqu sawo saboshwa ngezibopho. Ohulumeni bezizwe baye babusa umhlaba kusukela lapho, ngaphandle kokuphazamisa kwaphezulu. Njengoba lemibuso yezizwe imelelwe “izilo” eBhayibhelini, kwakunjengokungathi ingelosi yasezulwini yayimemezele: “Aphiwe inhliziyo yesilwane, kudlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwakhe.” (Daniyeli 4:16; 8:1-8, 20-22) Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, lezo “zikhathi eziyisikhombisa” zokubusa kohulumeni abanjengezilo zaziyophela. Khona-ke ‘izibopho’ zaziyosuswa, “umuthi” uphinde ukhule njengoba ukubuswa komhlaba kuqala ukuba ngaphansi kwalowo uJehova ayeyomnika “imibuso yabantu.”
9 Lezo “zikhathi eziyisikhombisa” zazizinde kangakanani? Zazingaphezulu kakhulu kweminyaka eyisikhombisa, ngoba emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva uJesu Kristu wabonisa ukuthi lezi “zikhathi zabezizwe” zazisaqhubeka. Base bebuse umhlaba kusukela ekunqobeni kweBabiloni iJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. futhi babesazoqhubeka esinye isikhathi ngemva kwalokho.—Luka 21:24.
10 Zibonele ngokwakho ukuthi iBhayibheli libhekisela kanjani ‘ezikhathini’ ezingokwesiprofetho. IsAmbulo 11:2, 3 sibonisa ukuthi izinsuku eziyi-1 260 zenza izinyanga ezingama-42, noma iminyaka emithathu nengxenye. IsAmbulo 12:6, 14 sikhuluma ngenani elifanayo lezinsuku (1 260) kodwa sibhekisela kuzo ngokuthi “isikhathi [1], nezikhathi [2], nengxenye yesikhathi,” noma “izikhathi” ezintathu nengxenye. Ngasinye ‘salezozikhathi’ siyizinsuku ezingama-360 (3 1/2 × 360 = 1 260). Usuku ngalunye lwalezi “zikhathi” ezingokwesiprofetho lumelela unyaka wonke ngokwesimiso sokuthi, “yilolo nalolosuku lube ngumnyaka.” (Numeri 14:34; Hezekeli 4:6) Ngaleyondlela “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” zilingana neminyaka eyizi-2 520 (7 × 360). Uma sibala sisuka entwasahlobo ka-607 B.C.E. lapho umbuso kaNkulunkulu ongokomfanekiso kwaJuda uwiswa yiBabiloni, iminyaka eyizi-2 520 isiletha entwasahlobo ka-1914 C.E. (606 1/4 + 1913 3/4 = 2 520) Lowo unyaka lapho “umbuso wezwe” wawumelwe unikezwe uJesu Kristu.
11 Ngemva kokwazisa obala ukuthi iBhayibheli likhomba ku-1914, oFakazi BakaJehova kwafuneka balinde amashumi eminyaka ngaphambi kokuba babone umphumela. Ekuqaleni kuka-1914 ukuthula kwezwe kwenza kwabonakala kwabaningi sengathi akukho lutho olwaluzokwenzeka. Kodwa ngaphambi kokuba ubusika budlule, ukuqiniseka koFakazi kwabonakala lapho izwe lingena empini eyayingakaze ibe khona efana nayo. Esibukezweni sencwadi ethi 1914, isazi-mlando uA. L. Rowse sabhala: “Uma kukhona unyaka owake waphawula ukuphela kwenkathi nokuqala kwenye, kwakuwu-1914. Lowonyaka waletha ekupheleni izwe elidala nesimo salo sokulondeka waqalisa isikhathi sesimanje, esigcwele ukungalondeki okuyisabelo sethu sansuku zonke.”44 Umbiko owawukhuluma ngesazi sokuphathwa kwezwe laseBrithani uWinston Churchill waphawula: “Isigalelo esashaya ngoJune 28, 1914, eSarajevo, siye sonakalisa izwe lokulondeka nokucabanga okwakhayo . . . Izwe aliphindange futhi libe indawo efanayo kusukela ngalesosikhathi. . . . Kwakuwushintsho olukhulu, futhi izwe layizolo elimangalisayo, elicwathile, nelikhangayo, lalinyamalele, lingasenakuphinde livele futhi.”45 Lowonyaka, wawuphawulwe isiprofetho seBhayibheli emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili, ngempela wabonakala uyisikhathi soshintsho olukhulu emlandweni.
12 Okokuqala kungase kubonakale kuyinto exakayo ukuthi ukubekwa kukaKristu esihlalweni sobukhosi kungaphawuleka ngempi engakaze ibe khona emhlabeni. Kodwa ungakhohlwa ukuthi “umbusi wezwe” unguSathane uDeveli. (Johane 14:30) Akazange afune ukubona uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uphethe izindaba zomhlaba. Ukuze asuse ukunaka kwabantu kuloMbuso, waqhubela abantu empini ukuze basekele obabo ubukhosi. Ngokungaphezulu, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi uSathane namademoni akhe bazama ukushwabadela uhulumeni woMbuso ekuzalweni kwawo. Waba yini umphumela? “Kwase kuba-khona ukulwa ezulwini . . . Wayesephonswa phansi udrako omkhulu, inyoka endala ethiwa uMhlebi noSathane, odukisa izwe lonke, waphonswa phansi emhlabeni, nezingelosi zakhe zaphonswa kanye naye.” Njengoba uSathane ayesesalelwe “isikhathi esifushane” kuphela, intukuthelo yakhe yayinkulu. (IsAmbulo 12:3-12) Kusasele iminyaka engamakhulu ayishumi nesishiyagalolunye iBhayibheli lanikeza incazelo eqondile yomphumela.
(2) Izenzakalo Ezinokubaluleka Okukhethekile
13 Ngonyaka ka-33 C.E., uJesu wasichaza ngokuningiliziwe ‘isibonakaliso sokuba-khona kwakhe nesokuphela kwezwe.’ Lokhu kulotshwe kuMathewu izahluko 24 no25, uMarku 13, noLuka 21. Ngesikhathi eneqembu labafundi bakhe eJerusalema, uJesu wayebikezele ngokubhujiswa kwethempeli lapho. Khona-ke abafundi bakhe bambuza: “Sitshele ukuthi lokhu kuyakuba-nini, nesibonakaliso sokuza kwakho nesokuphela kwezwe siyakuba-yini na?”—Mathewu 24:1-3.
14 Lapho ephendula uJesu wathi: “Niyakuzwa izimpi namahemuhemu ezimpi. Bhekani ningethuki, ngokuba kumelwe ukuba kwenzeke, kepha ukuphela koba kungakafiki. Ngokuba isizwe siyakuvukela isizwe, nombuso uvukele umbuso, kube-khona indlala nokuzamazama komhlaba izindawo ngezindawo. Kepha konke lokho kungukuqala kwemihelo.” Njengoba uLuka 21:11 ebonisa, wakhuluma futhi ‘ngendlala izindawo ngezindawo.’ Waxwayisa ‘ngokwanda kobubi.’ Futhi ngenxa yalokhu, wathi “kuzakuphola uthando lwabaningi.” Futhi, ngokuphawulekayo, wabikezela: “Lezi zindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe ngenjongo yobufakazi kuzo zonke izizwe; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.”—Mathewu 24:4-14, NW.
15 Kodwa kungase kubuzwe lombuzo: ‘Ezinye zalezoziprofetho azizange yini zigcwaliseke ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngamaRoma ngonyaka ka-70 C.E.?’ Yebo, ezinye zagcwaliseka. Kodwa kukhulu okwakusazokuza, njengoba iziprofetho ngokwazo zibonisa. Kuyiqiniso, uJesu wayephendula umbuzo owawuthinta abafundi bakhe ngalesosikhathi. Kodwa wasebenzisa lelithuba ukuba anikeze ukwaziswa kwesikhathi eside ngesikhathi lapho “iNdodana yomuntu” yayizofika khona “inamandla nenkazimulo enkulu” nalapho “umbuso kaNkulunkulu” wawuzobe ususondele.—Luka 21:27, 31.
16 Yebo, lezizinto azenzekanga ngesikhathi sokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-70 C.E. Incwadi yokugcina yeBhayibheli, eyabhalwa cishe ngo-96 C.E., ibonisa ukuthi lezizenzakalo eziphathelene noMbuso zazisazokwenzeka. (IsAmbulo 1:1; 11:15-18; 12:3-12) Ngolimi lomfanekiso isAmbulo sibonisa ukuthi izimpi, ukuntuleka kokudla, nezifo uJesu abikezela ngazo zaziyizenzakalo zesikhathi esizayo, futhi ngesilinganiso esingajwayelekile. Zaziyobonisa isikhathi lapho uKristu eqala nalapho eqeda ukunqoba kwakhe bonke abaphikisi boMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (IsAmbulo 6:1-8) Iqiniso lokuthi ezinye izingxenye zesiprofetho sikaJesu zagcwaliseka ekhulwini lokuqala laqinisekisa ukuba yiqiniso kwazo, lanikeza isizathu sokuthembela kukho konke okunye uJesu athi kuyokwenzeka.
17 Ingabe leziprofetho sezikutholile ukugcwaliseka okukhulu, nokuphelele kulelikhulu lama-20? Abantu abangazi abangaphansi kweminyaka engama-70 ubudala bangase babe nomuzwa wokuthi izikhathi zethu zingezivamile ngoba abakhumbuli sikhathi lapho izinto zazehluke khona. Kodwa abantu abadala, nalabo abanolwazi lomlando, bazi okuhlukile. Njengoba enye incwadi yomlando yaphawula ngokuphathelene nezenzakalo zika-1914: “Amazwe ayishumi nesihlanu kuphela angahilelekanga empini . . . Kodwa phakathi kwawo lalingekho izwe elikhulu elalingaba namandla okusebenza njengomlamuli. Lokhu kwakungakaze kwenzeke emlandweni wezwe; ayikho impi eyake yaba-nkulu kangaka. Isiprofetho seBhayibheli eliNgcwele: ‘Isizwe siyovukela isizwe nombuso uvukele umbuso,’ sagcwaliseka ngokoqobo.”46
18 Kodwa izinto ezinjalo zazingekuphela kwengxenye yalokho uJesu athi kwakuyokuba “isibonakaliso.” Esebenzisa umfanekiso, wathi: “Bhekani umkhiwane nemithi yonke. Nxa isihluma, niyabona, nazi ngokwenu ukuthi ihlobo seliseduze. Kanjalo nani, nxa nibona lezozinto zenzeka, yazini ukuthi umbuso kaNkulunkulu useduze. Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Lesisizukulwane asiyikudlula kungakenzeki konke.” (Luka 21:29-32) Uma ubungabona umuthi owodwa uhluma ngesikhathi okungesona, ubungeke uphuphutheke ucabange ukuthi ihlobo liyethwasa. Kodwa uma ubona yonke imithi ihluma ngesikhathi esifanele, uyazi ukuthi kusho ukuthini. Ngokufanayo, uJesu wabikezela ukuthi ‘ukuba-khona’ kwakhe ‘nokuphela kwezwe’ kwakungeke nje kuphawuleke ngempi kuphela kodwa ngezinto eziningi zonke zenzeka ngesikhathi sokuphila sesizukulwane esisodwa.
19 Ingabe lezozinto sezenzekile? Njengoba uhlola ishadi elikulesahluko elinesihloko esithi “Siyokuba Yini Isibonakaliso?” ungase ukhumbule ufunda ngezimpi zamakhulu eminyaka angaphambili. Kodwa iMpi Yezwe I iba ngevelele kuzo zonke ezinye, isikhathi soshintsho emlandweni. Ungase ukhumbule futhi, ukuthi ukuswelakala kokudla, izifo, ukuzamazama komhlaba, izikhathi zobubi, nemizamo engavamile yokulwela ukuthula nokulondeka kuye kwenzeka ngaphambi kuka-1914. Nokho, asikho esinye isikhathi emlandweni lapho zonke lezizinto ziye zenzeka esizukulwaneni esisodwa ngesilinganiso esikhulu kangaka. Uma kukhulunywa iqiniso, uma izenzakalo ezaqala ngo-1914 zingagcwalisi isibonakaliso, yini enye edingekayo? Ngaphandle kokungabaza, siphila esikhathini ‘sokuba-khona’ kukaJesu emandleni oMbuso.
20 Ukubonakala kwezici ‘zesibonakaliso’ akuzange kusho ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uzosusa ububi ngokushesha emhlabeni. Njengoba uJesu abikezela, “konke lokho kungukuqala kwemihelo.” (Mathewu 24:8) Kwakusazolandela okunye. IThe World Book Encyclopedia iyaphawula: “IMpi Yezwe I nemiphumela yayo yaholela kokukhulu ukwehla kwezomnotho emlandweni ekuqaleni kwawo-1930. Imiphumela yempi nezinkinga zokulunga kwaholela eziphithiphithini cishe kuzo zonke izizwe.”47 Eminyakeni emibalwa kamuva kwagqashuka iMpi Yezwe II. Yayiyimbi ngokuphindiwe kuneyokuqala. Kusukela lapho, ukungakhathali ngokuphila nangempahla yomuntu kuye kwakhula, futhi ukwesaba ubugebengu sekuye kwaba yinsakavukela. Ukuziphatha okuhle kuye kwabekelwa eceleni. Ukuqhuma kwenani labantu kuveza izinkinga ezingaxazululwa. Ukungcola komhlaba konakalisa isimo sokuphila futhi kukufaka engozini. Kukhona futhi nokusongela kukakhukhulelangoqo wenuzi.
21 Kunini lapho ‘lemihelo’ yaqala khona? IStar saseLondon saphawula: “Izazi-mlando ezithile zekhulu leminyaka elizayo zingaphetha ngokuthi usuku izwe elahlanya ngalo kwaku- . . . [ngo-] 1914.”48 Lowonyaka, u-1914, wawusuphawulwe kudala isiprofetho seBhayibheli.
(3) Izenzakalo Zenkolo Eziphawulekayo
22 Futhi phakathi kwezenzakalo ezivelele uJesu athi zaziyobonisa “isiphelo salesimiso sezinto” kunalezi ezilandelayo: “Kuyakuvela abaprofethi bamanga abaningi, badukise abaningi. Ngenxa yokwanda kokubi kuzakuphola uthando lwabaningi.” (Mathewu 24:11, 12) UJesu wahlanganisa ukwanda kokubi nokuphola kothando nethonya labaprofethi bamanga—abafundisi benkolo abakhohlisa ngokuthi bakhulumela uNkulunkulu. Ekuqaleni, lencwadi iye yanikeza ubufakazi bokuthi abefundisi baye basekela izimpi zezizwe, behlisa izindinganiso zeBhayibheli zokuziphatha okuhle njengeziyisidala, futhi babiza izingxenye zeBhayibheli njengezingelona iqiniso. Yaba yini imiphumela? ‘Ukuphola’ kothando ngoNkulunkulu nemithetho yakhe. Lokhu kuye kwaba yisici esiyinhloko ekuwohlokeni kokuziphatha, kanye nokungazihluphi ngegunya nokuntula ukukhathalela ngabanye abantu.—2 Thimothewu 3:1-5.
23 Ngenxa yezimo ezinjalo, izigidi ziye zazishiya izinhlangano zenkolo. Abanye baphendukela eBhayibhelini bahambisane nezindlela zalo. Abanye bamane bayeke ngenxa yokudumala nokucasuka. Abaningi baba yizitha zenkolo. Omunye umhleli wathi: “Umuntu akakwazi ukungamangali ngokuthi ezingakanani zezinkathazo zezwe ezinomsuka wazo enkolweni. Futhi zimbalwa izimbangi zezwe zezombangazwe ezike zivuse ukushisekela ukuchitha igazi okwenzeka empini engokwenkolo.” Ngenxa yalokhu, wabuza: “Kungani ingapheliswa inkolo?”49
24 Ukuwa kwezinkolo ezinkulu kuye kwafakazelwa kahle. Ngokwesibonelo, umbiko ngeItaly ubonisa ukuthi nakuba abangu-95% babantu bethi bangamaKatolika, “ababa khona esontweni ngeSonto balinganiselwa ngaphansi kuka-20%.”50 Omunye umbiko wembula ukuthi inani labapristi kuwo wonke umhlaba lehla ngezi-25 000 eminyakeni eyishumi.51 EUnited States ukuhlolwa kwamasonto kwabonisa okunye “ukuncipha okufinyelela ku-50% ebupristini bamaKatolika aseMelika ngonyaka ka-2 000.”52 IU.S. News & World Report yaphawula “ukwehla okukhulu enanini lamadoda angena ezikoleni zobufundisi zamaKatolika” eUnited States, kusukela enanini eliphakeme lezi-48 992 kuya kwayizi-11 262 eminyakeni engaphansi kwengama-20.53 IThe New York Times yabika ukuthi emhlabeni wonke “inani lezindela liye lehla lisuka kweziyizi-181 421 laya kweziyizi-121 370” eminyakeni eyi-15.54 Isimo singesifanayo ezinkolweni eziningi.
25 Ngokuphambene, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi “isixuku esikhulu” esivela kuzo zonke izizwe sasiyodonselwa ekukhulekeleni uJehova kulesikhathi sokuphela. UJesu wabikezela ngalokhu kuqoqwa, ethi uyohlukanisa abantu kwabanye, kungaba ngenjongo yokubavikela badlule “osizini olukhulu,” noma baye “ekujezisweni okuphakade.” (IsAmbulo 7:9, 10, 14; Isaya 2:2-4; Mathewu 25:31-33, 46) Yini ehlukanisela abantu ukusinda? IBhayibheli liyaphendula: “Izwe liyadlula kanye nenkanuko yalo; kepha owenza intando kaNkulunkulu uhlala kuze kube-phakade.” (1 Johane 2:17) Abantu bebeyokwazi kanjani ukuthi intando kaNkulunkulu iyini? Ngokusabela emsebenzini wokufundisa owenziwa emhlabeni wonke owabikezelwa uJesu uma ethi: “Lezi zindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe ngenjongo yobufakazi kuzo zonke izizwe; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.” (Mathewu 24:14, NW) Lokhu kushumayela kwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babhekane nenselele yokuthi: Ingabe basekela ukubusa kukaNkulunkulu? Noma, ngokuhambisana nokunxusa kukaSathane e-Edene, ingabe bafuna ukubusa kwabantu kokuzibusa? UJehova unikeza abantu ithuba lokukhetha.
26 Ukufakazela uMbuso emhlabeni wonke kwenziwa ngamandla andayo. Emazweni angaphezu kwama-200, izigidi zoFakazi BakaJehova zihambela abantu emakhaya abo bazinikele ekutadisheni iBhayibheli kanye nabo, mahhala. Izincwadi abazisebenzisayo ziyizincwadi zeBhayibheli ezisakazeke kakhulu emhlabeni. Eqinisweni, ziphakathi kwezincwadi zanoma iluphi uhlobo ezisakazwa kakhulu emhlabeni. Futhi zitholakala ngezilimi ezingaba yi-190.
27 Lomsebenzi wokwehlukanisa ubuqhubeka iminyaka eminingi. Manje ususeduze nokuphela kwawo. NgokweZwi likaNkulunkulu, labo abaye benqaba ukubusa koMbuso wakhe, kanye nalabo abaye baliyeka ngokunganaki ithuba lokufunda ngaye, bayochithwa. (Mathewu 25:34, 41, 46; 2 Thesalonika 1:6-9) Ngokuqondene nalabo abazichaza njengabasekeli boMbuso kaNkulunkulu, lokhu kuyoba isikhathi sokukhululeka okukhulu. Kodwa lokhu kwahlulela kuyofika nini?
(4) “Lesisizukulwane Asiyikudlula”
28 Ngokuqondene ‘nalolosuku nalelohora,’ uJesu wathi, “akekho owazi-lutho ngalo nazingelosi zasezulwini, naNdodana, nguBaba kuphela.” Kodwa uJesu wanikeza isibonakaliso sesikhathi esiwusizo uma ethi: “Lesisizukulwane asiyikudlula kungakenzeki konke lokhu.” (Mathewu 24:34, 36) Ngaleyondlela zonke izici ezihlukahlukene ‘zesibonakaliso,’ kanye ‘nosizi olukhulu,’ kumelwe zenzeke ngesikhathi sokuphila sesizukulwane esisodwa—isizukulwane sika-1914. Lokhu kusho ukuthi abanye abantu ababona izenzakalo zika-1914, lapho “isiphelo salesimiso sezinto” siqala, bayobe besaphila ukuze babone ukuphela kwaso lapho “usizi olukhulu” lugqashuka. Labo abakhumbula izenzakalo zika-1914 sebeyaguga manje. Abaningi babo sebefile kakade. Kodwa uJesu wasiqinisekisa ngokuthi “lesisizukulwane asiyikudlula” ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kwalesimiso esibi sezinto.—Mathewu 24:21.
29 Yeka indlela uNkulunkulu aye wabekezela ngayo ngokunikeza lelithuba elandisiwe lokuphenduka! (2 Petru 3:9) Ngokokuqala ngqá emlandweni, izinkinga ezandayo ziye zafinyelela izinga elesabekayo—impi, ukungcola, ukuchichima kwenani labantu, nokungaphezulu. Noma iyiphi yazo ingaletha inhlekelele ephelele. Ngokuvumela ubufakazi obunjalo bunqwabelane, uNkulunkulu uye wakwenza kwaba lula ngabantu ukuba babone ukuthi umuntu akanazo izimpendulo. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, ukushunyayelwa ‘kwezindaba ezinhle zombuso’ kuye kwasiza abantu abaqotho ukuba baqaphele ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uwukuphela kwethemba lokuthula kweqiniso nokulondeka. Ngaleyondlela uNkulunkulu ubanikeza ithuba lokuzibonakalisa besohlangothini lwakhe lwempikiswano enkulu.
(5) Uphawu Lokugcina
30 Nokho kunesinye isenzakalo esiyofika njengophawu olungaphazami lokuthi ukubhujiswa kwezwe kuseduze. Ngokuqondene nalolu umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Usuku lweNkosi [uJehova] luza njengesela ebusuku. Nxa bethi: Ngukuthula nokuhlala kahle, khona ukubhujiswa kuyabazuma . . . abasoze baphunyuka.”—1 Thesalonika 5:2, 3; Luka 21:34, 35.
31 Abaholi bezwe bayazi ukuthi impi yenuzi isho ukuphela nyá. Futhi, izinkinga ezibucayi ezinjengokungcola komhlaba, ukuchichima kwenani labantu, nezinkinga zangaphakathi zidinga ukunakekelwa nemali. Ngakho-ke zifuna ukwenza ngcono ubuhlobo bezizwe zonke obucindezelekile. Ubufakazi balokhu buwukumemezela kweZizwe Ezihlangene u-1986 ‘njengonyaka wezizwe zonke wokuthula nokulondeka.’ Lokhu, ngokungangabazeki, kuyisinyathelo esiya ekugcwalisekeni kwamazwi kaPawulu acashunwe ngenhla. Yebo, ukuxoxisana kwezombangazwe nezivumelwano akulwenzi ushintsho lwangempela kubantu ukuba kubabangele bathandane. Ababuyeki ubugebengu, futhi abaziqedi izifo nokufa. Nokho, isiprofetho sibonisa ukuthi kuyofika isikhathi lapho izizwe ziyomemezela ukuthi ziye zafinyelela izinga elithile ‘lokuthula nokulondeka.’ Lapho lokhu kwenzeka, khona-ke ‘ukubhujiswa okuzumayo’ kuyobafica bengazelele labo abadukisa isintu, kanye nalabo abathembela kubo.
32 Kodwa bakhona abayosinda. Uyoba ngomunye wabo?
[Imibuzo Yesifundo]
1. Iyiphi inhloso enhle uNkulunkulu anayo ngesintu?
2. (a) Lapho “usuku lukaJehova” lufika, obani abayozumeka? (b) Singakugwema kanjani ukuba lokho kwenzeke kithi?
3, 4. (a) Kukuphi lapho kuchazwe khona ukubaluleka okugcwele kwezenzakalo zalelikhulu lama-20? (b) Imaphi amaphuzu ayisihlanu asemqoka ahlelwe esiprofethweni seBhayibheli esizowahlola?
5. Kwakukudala kangakanani lapho oFakazi BakaJehova baqaphela khona ukuthi iBhayibheli lalikhomba ku-1914 C.E. njengonyaka ophawulekayo?
6. (a) Yini ekhulunyelwa kuDaniyeli 4:2, 3, 17? (b) Ubani “amthandayo” uJehova amnikeza “umbuso”?
7. (a) Iliphi iphupho elingokwesiprofetho elichazwe kuDaniyeli 4:10-16? (b) Lasebenza kanjani eNkosini uNebukadinesari?
8. (a) Incazelo enkulu yesiprofetho ihlobene namuphi umbuso? (b) Ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu, yini emelelwe ukunqunywa komuthi, futhi ‘wanikezwa kanjani inhliziyo yesilwane’?
9, 10. (a) Ekubaleni ubude ‘bezikhathi eziyisikhombisa,’ “isikhathi” ngasinye siba side kangakanani, futhi iBhayibheli likubonisa kanjani lokhu? (b) Zaqala nini “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa,” zihlanganisa iminyaka emingaki, futhi ziphela nini?
11. Izazi-mlando zithini ngokubaluleka konyaka ka-1914?
12. Sasiyini isizathu sobuyaluyalu obukhulu ezindabeni zesintu ngo-1914 nangemva kwalokho?
13. Yini eyaholela ekubeni uJesu asho ‘isibonakaliso sokuba-khona kwakhe nesokuphela kwezwe’?
14. Yisho ezinye izenzakalo ezibalulekile uJesu azihlanganisa ‘esibonakalisweni.’
15, 16. (a) Ingabe zikhona eziprofethweni zikaJesu ezagcwaliseka ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-70 C.E.? (b) Sazi kanjani ukuthi kumelwe kube khona okunye ukugcwaliseka, ngisho nokubaluleke ngokwengeziwe?
17. Ingabe izimo emhlabeni namuhla zihluke kakhulu kulokho ezaziyikho ngaphambi kuka-1914?
18. Kungani singabe siyaphazama uma siphetha ngokuthi impi yendawo yonke kuphela eyayidingekile ‘esibonakalisweni’?
19. (a) Njengoba kuboniswe eshadini elikulesahluko, izici ezihlukahlukene ‘zesibonakaliso’ ziye zagcwaliseka kanjani kusukela ngo-1914? (b) Kungani izimpi zangaphambili, ukuntuleka kokudla, ukuzamazama komhlaba, njalonjalo, kungakhi “isibonakaliso” uJesu akhuluma ngaso?
20, 21. Izenzakalo ezazihambisana neMpi Yezwe I zabonakala kanjani ‘ziwukuqala kwemihelo,’ njengoba uJesu abikezela?
22. (a) UJesu wasihlanganisa nani isibikezelo sakhe sokwanda kokubi nokuphola kothando? (b) Izimfundiso zabefundisi ziye zanikela kanjani kulesisimo?
23, 24. Yini ebeyenzeka enkolweni eminyakeni yamuva?
25. (a) Ngokuphambene, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi yini eyayiyokwenzeka ngokuqondene nokukhulekela kweqiniso kulesikhathi? (b) Lokho kuqoqwa kwabakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu beqiniso kwenziwa ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukabani, futhi ngasiphi isisekelo? (c) Abantu bazo zonke izizwe babhekene nayiphi inselele?
26, 27. (a) Lomsebenzi wokufakaza usuye wenziwa ngezinga elingakanani kakade? (b) Kungani ukusabela komuntu esigijimini soMbuso kuyindaba engathi sína?
28. UJesu wathi ukubhujiswa kwezwe okwabikezelwa kuyofika phakathi nasiphi isikhathi?
29. Ngokuvumela izenzakalo ezisukela ku-1914 ziqhubeke kuze kube sezingeni ezikulo, uNkulunkulu uye wakwenza kanjani kwaba lula ngabantu ukwenza isinqumo esiqondile?
30. Iluphi uphawu lokugcina lokusondela kwembubhiso yezwe iBhayibheli elilubonisayo?
31, 32. (a) Ingabe “ukuthula nokulondeka” okumenyezelwa ababusi bezombangazwe kungokuyiqiniso? (b) Kungani kungaba yingozi ukudukiswa yikho?
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 78, 79]
“Siyokuba Yini Isibonakaliso?”
“Isizwe Siyovukela Isizwe”—
“IMpi Yezwe I yangenisa ikhulu leminyaka leMpi Ephelele—ngokomqondo wokuqala ophelele wegama—impi yembulunga yonke. . . . Akukaze kwenzeke ngaphambi kuka-1914-1918 ukuba impi . . . ihlanganise ingxenye enkulu kangaka yomhlaba. . . . Akukaze kwenzeke ukuba ukubulala kube kukhulu kangaka futhi kungakhethi.”—World War I, kaH. Baldwin.
IMpi Yezwe I yabulala izigidi eziyi-14 zababesempini nezakhamuzi; iMpi Yezwe II yabulala izigidi ezingama-55. Kusukela ngeMpi Yezwe II amakhulu ezehlakalo, ukuhlubuka, nezimpi kuye kwabulala abantu abangaba yizigidi ezingama-35.
Ngakho-ke, kusukela ngo-1914 ukuphila okungaphezu kwezigidi eziyi-100 kuye kwalahleka ngempi!
“Kube-khona Indlala”—
Ukuntuleka kokudla kwahlasela amazwe amaningi ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I neMpi Yezwe II.
Manje, naphezu kweminyaka yokuthuthuka kwezesayensi, cishe ingxenye yesine yomhlaba iphethwe indlala. Abantwana abalinganiselwa ezigidini eziyi-12 unyaka ngamunye bafa ngaphambi kokuqeda unyaka ngenxa yokuntula ukudla okunomsoco. Minyaka yonke izigidi zabanye nazo ziyafa ngenxa yesizathu esifanayo.
“Izifo”—
Asikho isibhadalala esake sabikwa esilingana nesomkhuhlane waseSpain ka-1918-1919. Wahlasela okungenani abantu abayizigidi ezingama-500; abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingama-20 bafa.
Ukucwaninga kwezokwelapha akuzange kukwazi ukuvimbela izinto ezinjengesifo senhliziyo ukuba sifinyelele izinga eliqothulayo. Ikhensa iwuhlupho olukhulayo. Inani leziguli eziphethwe izifo zobulili seliphakeme kakhulu.
“Ukuzamazama Komhlaba” Ezindaweni Eziningi—
Ukulinganiswa kwamanani ezisulu kuyahlukahluka, kuye ngokwemithombo. Kodwa izibonelo ezimbalwa nje: Abayizi-30 000 kuya kwabayizi-32 000 bafa ekuzamazameni komhlaba eItaly ngo-1915; izi-100 000 kuya kwabayizi-200 000 eChina ngo-1920; izi-95 000 kuya kwabayizi-150 000 eJapane ngo-1923; izi-25 000 kuya kwabayizi-60 000 eNdiya ngo-1935; izi-12 000 kuya kwabayizi-20 000 eIran ngo-1968; izi-54 000 kuya kwabayizi-70 000 ePeru ngo-1970; izi-20 000 kuya kwabayizi-23 000 eGuatemala ngo-1976; izi-100-000 kuya kwabayizi-800 000 eChina ngo-1976. Kusukela ngo-1914 izinkulungwane eziningi zabanye ziye zafa ekuzamazameni okukhulu okungamakhulu kuwo wonke umhlaba.
Izibalo ezivela emithonjeni ehlukahlukene zibonisa ukuthi isilinganiso senani lokuzamazama komhlaba okunzima unyaka ngamunye kusukela ngo-1914 siye saba sikhulu ngokuphindiwe kunesilinganiso seminyaka eyizi-2 000 engaphambili.
“Ukwanda Kokubi”—
Uyawazi amaqiniso. Ukwanda kobugebengu kuthinta wonke amazwe omhlaba. Ukuphila kwakho siqu kuye kwathinteka. Endaweni yakini, yini ebeyenzeka ezikoleni? Ingabe kukhona ukusetshenziswa kwezidakamizwa okungemthetho endaweni yakini? Kuthiwani ngokungathembeki ebhizinisini? Uzizwa ulondeke kangakanani emgwaqweni ebusuku?
Ukungabi namthetho akukhona nje ngokuqondene nomthetho wabantu, kodwa ikakhulukazi ngokuqondene nomthetho kaNkulunkulu. (Bheka eyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:1-5, 13.)
UMbuso KaNkulunkulu Uyoshunyayelwa Emhlabeni Wonke—
Lomsebenzi wenziwa njalo izigidi zoFakazi BakaJehova emazweni angaphezu kwangama-200.
Phakathi neminyaka eyishumi nje edlule, cishe izigidi eziyizinkulungwane zamahora ziye zasetshenziswa oFakazi BakaJehova ekushumayeleni obala ngalesigijimi. Ngalesosikhathi esifanayo basakaza ngezilimi ezingaba yi-190, izincwadi ezingaphezu kwezigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyi-5 ezikhomba eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu njengowukuphela kwethemba lomuntu.
Ukumenyezelwa ‘Kokuthula Nokulondeka’—
Abaholi bayasiqaphela isidingo sokuthula ukuze kugwenywe inhlekelele yenuzi nokuba kunakekelwe ezinye izinkinga ezikhulayo. Isinyathelo salokhu siwukumemezela kweZizwe Ezihlangene u-1986 njengonyaka “wokuthula, ukulondeka kwezizwe zonke nokubambisana.”—General Assembly, iphuzu 32 leSimiso, ingxenye yama-39.
Zonke lezizinto ‘ziyisibonakaliso’ sani? Sokuthi manje siphila ‘esiphelweni salesimiso sezinto.’ Sokuthi uKristu usesithathile isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi ezulwini futhi uhlukanisa kubantu bazo zonke izizwe labo abafuna ngempela ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. Nokuthi “usizi olukhulu” seluseduze kakhulu. Ngokwemininingwane eyengeziwe, funda uMathewu isahluko 24 no-25, uMarku 13, noLuka 21.