Bayajabula Labo Abahlala Bephapheme!
“Bheka! Ngiyeza njengesela. Uyajabula lowo ohlala ephapheme futhi agcine izingubo zakhe zangaphandle.”—ISAMBULO 16:15.
1. Njengoba usuku lukaJehova luseduze, yini esingayilindela?
USUKU olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze, futhi lokho kusho impi! Embonweni, umphostoli uJohane wabona “izinkulumo eziphefumulelwe amademoni” ezinjengamaxoxo ziya kuwo wonke ‘amakhosi,’ noma ababusi, bomhlaba. Ziyokwenzani? Phela, “ukuze ziwabuthele ndawonye empini yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke”! UJohane wanezela: “Zawabuthela ndawonye endaweni ngesiHeberu ebizwa ngokuthi iHar–Magedoni.”—IsAmbulo 16:13-16.
2. Ubani uGogi wakwaMagogi, futhi kuyokwenzekani lapho ehlasela abantu bakaJehova?
2 Maduze, uJehova uzoshukumisela ezombangazwe zalelizwe ukuba zibhubhise iBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. (IsAmbulo 17:1-5, 15-17) Ngemva kwalokho uGogi wakwaMagogi, uSathane uDeveli owehliselwe emhlabeni, uyovivisa amabutho akhe ahlasele ngangokusemandleni akhe abantu bakaJehova abanokuthula, ababonakala bengavikelekile. (Hezekeli 38:1-12) Kodwa uNkulunkulu uyothatha isinyathelo sokusindisa abantu bakhe. Lokho kuyophawula ukugqashuka ‘kosuku olukhulu nolwesabekayo lukaJehova.’—Joweli 2:31; Hezekeli 38:18-20.
3. Ungazichaza kanjani izenzakalo ezabikezelwa kuHezekeli 38:21-23?
3 Yebo, uJehova uyosindisa abantu bakhe futhi abhubhise yonke iminonjana yesimiso sikaSathane lapho sifinyelela esimweni sezwe esibizwa ngokuthi iHar–Magedoni, noma i-Armagedoni. Funda amazwi esiprofetho kaHezekeli 38:21-23, ube nombono wesimo. UJehova usebenzisa amandla akhe ukuze alethe imvula eyizikhukhula, isichotho esonakalisayo, umlilo oqothulayo, isifo esibulalayo. Kuba khona ukwesaba emhlabeni wonke njengoba amabutho kaGogi edideka, elwa wodwa. Noma yiziphi izitha zikaNkulunkulu uMninimandla Onke ezisindile ziyabulawa njengoba uJehova esebenzisa amandla angaphezu kwawemvelo ukuze asindise izinceku zakhe. Lapho “usizi olukhulu” olwabikezelwa seluphelile, akukho okuyosala kulesi simiso sikaSathane esingamhloniphi uNkulunkulu. (Mathewu 24:21) Nokho, ngisho naseminjunjwini yabo yokufa, ababi bayokwazi ukuthi ubani obangela usizi lwabo. UNkulunkulu wethu onqobayo ngokwakhe uthi: “Bazi ukuthi nginguJehova.” Lezi zenzakalo ezingavamile zizokwenzeka osukwini lwethu, phakathi nokuba khona kukaJesu.
Ukuza Njengesela
4. Iyiphi indlela uJesu ayokuza ngayo ezobhubhisa lesi simiso esibi sezinto?
4 INkosi ekhazinyulisiwe uJesu Kristu yathi: “Bheka! Ngiyeza njengesela.” Ukuza okunjengokwesela kuyozuma, kuyofika ngesikhathi esingalindelekile, lapho abantu abaningi belele. Lapho uJesu eza njengesela ezobhubhisa lesi simiso esibi, uyolondoloza labo abaphapheme ngempela. Watshela uJohane: “Uyajabula lowo ohlala ephapheme futhi agcine izingubo zakhe zangaphandle, ukuze angahambi-ze futhi abantu babuke ukuhlazeka kwakhe.” (IsAmbulo 16:15) Asho ukuthini lawo mazwi? Futhi singahlala kanjani siphapheme ngokomoya?
5. Yiliphi ilungiselelo lenkonzo yasethempelini elalikhona lapho uJesu esemhlabeni?
5 Ngokuvamile, umlindi akakhunyulwa abe nqunu uma elele emsebenzini. Kodwa lokho kwakwenzeka ethempelini eJerusalema lapho uJesu esemhlabeni futhi izigaba zabapristi namaLevi zikhonza ethempelini eJerusalema. Kwakungekhulu le-11 B.C.E. lapho iNkosi uDavide ihlela amakhulu abapristi bakwa-Israyeli nezinkulungwane zabasizi babo abangamaLevi beba iqembu elinezigaba ezingu-24. (1 IziKronike 24:1-18) Isigaba ngasinye sezisebenzi eziqeqeshiwe ezingaphezu kwenkulungwane sasishintshana nesinye ekusingatheni izici zenkonzo yasethempelini okungenani kabili ngonyaka isonto eligcwele ngesikhathi. Nokho, eMkhosini Wamadokodo, zonke lezi zigaba ezingu-24 zazisebenza. Kwakudingeka nosizo olwengeziwe emikhosini yePhasika.
6. Yini okungenzeka uJesu wayebhekisele kuyo lapho ethi, “uyajabula lowo ohlala ephapheme futhi agcine izingubo zakhe zangaphandle”?
6 Lapho uJesu ethi, “uyajabula lowo ohlala ephapheme futhi agcine izingubo zakhe zangaphandle,” kungenzeka wayebhekisela enqubweni eyayilandelwa ngaleso sikhathi eyayihilela umsebenzi wokuqapha ethempelini. I-Mishnah yamaJuda ithi: “Abapristi babeqapha ezindaweni ezintathu eThempelini: eKamelweni Lika-Abtinas, eKamelweni Lelangabi naseKamelweni Leziko; kanti amalevi ayeqapha ezindaweni ezingamashumi amabili nanye: ezinhlanu emasangweni amahlanu eNtaba Yethempeli, ezine ezingosini zalo ezine ngaphakathi, ezinhlanu emasangweni amahlanu eGceke Lethempeli, ezine ezingosini zalo ezine ngaphandle, eyodwa eKamelweni Leminikelo, eyodwa eKamelweni Lesihenqo neyodwa ngemuva kwendawo yeSihlalo Somusa [ngaphandle kodonga olungemuva lweNgcwelengcwele]. Umphathi weNtaba Yethempeli wayevame ukujikeleza aye kubo bonke abalindi ephethe izimbaqa ezikhanyayo phambi kwakhe, futhi uma noma yimuphi umlindi engasukumi athi kuye, ‘O mphathi weNtaba Yethempeli, ukuthula makube kuwe!’ futhi kubonakala ukuthi ulele, wayemshaya ngenduku yakhe, futhi wayenelungelo lokushisa ingubo yakhe.”—The Mishnah, Middoth (“Measurements”), 1, izigaba 1-2, ehunyushwe nguHerbert Danby.
7. Kungani abapristi namaLevi ayeqapha ethempelini kwakudingeka bahlale bephapheme?
7 AmaLevi nabapristi abaningi besigaba esikhonzayo babehlala bephapheme ubusuku bonke ukuze baqaphe futhi bavimbele noma ubani ongahlanzekile ukuba angene emagcekeni ethempeli. Njengoba “umphathi weNtaba Yethempeli,” noma ‘induna yethempeli,’ ijikeleza kuzo zonke iziteshi ezingu-24 phakathi nokuqapha kwasebusuku, umlindi ngamunye kwakumelwe ahlale ephapheme endaweni yakhe uma engafuni ukubanjwa engazelele.—IzEnzo 4:1.
8. Ziyini izingubo zangaphandle zomKristu ezingokomfanekiso?
8 AmaKristu agcotshiwe nezinceku ezikanye nawo kufanele ahlale ephapheme ngokomoya futhi agcine izingubo zawo zangaphandle ezingokomfanekiso. Lezi ziwubufakazi bangaphandle bokumiselwa kwethu inkonzo ethempelini likaJehova elingokomoya. Ngenxa yalokhu, sinomoya kaNkulunkulu ongcwele, noma amandla asebenzayo, asisiza ukuba senze imisebenzi yethu futhi sifeze amalungelo ethu njengabamemezeli boMbuso. Ukulala ezabelweni zethu njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu kuyosifaka engozini yokubanjwa uJesu Kristu, iNduna yethempeli elikhulu elingokomoya. Uma silele ngokomoya ngaleso sikhathi, siyokhunyulwa sibe nqunu ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso nezingubo zethu ezingokomfanekiso zishiswe. Ngakho singahlala kanjani siphapheme ngokomoya?
Indlela Esingahlala Ngayo Siphapheme
9. Kungani ukutadisha iBhayibheli ngosizo lwezincwadi zobuKristu kubaluleke kangaka?
9 Ukutadisha imiBhalo ngenkuthalo ngosizo lwezincwadi zobuKristu kunikeza amandla okuphaphama ngokomoya. Ukutadisha okunjalo kuyosihlomisela inkonzo, kuyosisiza ukuba sibhekane nosizi, futhi kuyosibonisa indlela eya enjabulweni engunaphakade. (IzAga 8:34, 35; Jakobe 1:5-8) Ukutadisha kwethu kufanele kube okungashwampuluzi nokuthuthukayo. (Heberu 5:14–6:3) Ukudla ukudla okunempilo njalo kungasisiza ukuba sihlale siphapheme futhi siqaphile. Kungavimbela ukozela okungaba uphawu lokungondleki kahle. Asinaso isizathu sokungondleki kahle ngokomoya nokozela, ngoba uNkulunkulu wenza inala yelungiselelo lokudla okungokomoya ‘ngesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo’ esigcotshiwe. (Mathewu 24:45-47) Ukudla njalo ukudla okungokomoya ngesifundo somuntu siqu nesomkhaya kungenye yezindlela zokuhlala siphapheme futhi ‘siphilile okholweni.’—Thithu 1:13.
10. Imihlangano yebandla, imihlangano emincane nemikhulu, isisiza kanjani ukuba sihlale siphapheme ngokomoya?
10 Imihlangano yebandla, imihlangano emincane nemikhulu isisiza ukuba sihlale siphapheme ngokomoya. Inikeza isikhuthazo namathuba ‘okuvuselelana othandweni nasemisebenzini emihle.’ Kufanele sihlangane njalo ikakhulukazi njengoba ‘sibona usuku lusondela.’ Manje lolo suku seluseduze impela. “Usuku lukaJehova,” lapho eyolwela khona ubukhosi bakhe. Uma lolo suku lubaluleke ngempela kithi—futhi kufanele kube njalo—ngeke ‘sikuyeke ukubuthana kwethu ndawonye.’—Heberu 10:24, 25; 2 Petru 3:10.
11. Kungani kungathiwa inkonzo yobuKristu ibalulekile ukuze siphaphame ngokomoya?
11 Ukuhlanganyela ngenhliziyo yonke enkonzweni yobuKristu kubalulekile ukuze siphaphame ngokomoya. Ukuhlanganyela njalo nangentshiseko ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle kusigcina siqaphile. Inkonzo yethu isinika amathuba amaningi okukhuluma nabantu ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu, uMbuso wakhe, nezinjongo zakhe. Kuyanelisa ukufakaza endlini ngendlu, ukwenza izimpindelo nokuqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya ngezincwadi ezinjengencwadi Ulwazi Oluholela Ekuphileni Okumi Phakade. Abadala e-Efesu yasendulo babengakufakazela ukuthi uPawulu wayebafundise “obala nasendlini ngendlu.” (IzEnzo 20:20, 21) Yiqiniso, abanye oFakazi BakaJehova abakholekile banezinkinga zempilo ezinzima eziphazamisa inkonzo yabo ngandlela-thile, kodwa bayazithola izindlela zokutshela abanye ngoJehova nobukhosi bakhe futhi bathola injabulo enkulu ngokwenza kanjalo.—IHubo 145:10-14.
12, 13. Kungaziphi izizathu kufanele sigweme ukuzitika ngokweqile ekudleni nasophuzweni?
12 Ukugwema ukuzitika ngokweqile kuyosisiza ukuba sihlale siphapheme ngokomoya. Lapho ekhuluma ngokuba khona kwakhe, uJesu wanxusa abaphostoli bakhe: “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.” (Luka 21:7, 34, 35) Ukuminza nokudakwa akuvumelani nezimiso zeBhayibheli. (Duteromoni 21:18-21, qhathanisa ne-NW.) IzAga 23:20, 21 zithi: “Ungabi phakathi kwezinseli zewayini nabayiziminzi zenyama. Ngokuba inseli noyisiminzi bayakuba-mpofu; ukozela kuyakwembathisa umuntu amanikiniki.”—IzAga 28:7.
13 Ngisho noma ukudla nokuphuza kakhulu kungakafinyeleli kulelo qophelo, kungenza umuntu ozele, avilaphe nokuvilapha futhi adebeselele ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. Kulindelekile ukuba kube nezinkathazo ezihilela ukuphila komkhaya, impilo nokunye. Kodwa siyojabula uma sibeka izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala ekuphileni futhi sibe nethemba lokuthi uBaba wethu wasezulwini uyosinakekela. (Mathewu 6:25-34) Ngaphandle kwalokho, “lolo suku” luyofika kithi ‘njengogibe,’ mhlawumbe njengesicupho esifihlekile esiyosibamba singanakile noma njengesicupho esinokudla, njengalezo eziheha bese zibamba izilwane ezinganakile. Lokhu ngeke kwenzeke uma sihlala siphapheme, sikuqaphela ngokugcwele ukuthi siphila ‘esikhathini sokuphela.’—Daniyeli 12:4.
14. Kungani kufanele sithandaze ngobuqotho?
14 Umthandazo oqotho ungolunye usizo lokuba siphaphame ngokomoya. Esiprofethweni sakhe esikhulu, uJesu waqhubeka wanxusa: “Khona-ke, hlalani niphapheme, ngaso sonke isikhathi ninxusa ukuba niphumelele ekuphunyukeni kuzo zonke lezizinto ezimiselwe ukuba zenzeke, nasekumeni phambi kweNdodana yomuntu.” (Luka 21:36) Yebo, masithandaze ukuze sihlale singasohlangothini lukaJehova futhi sijabulele ukuma okwamukelekayo lapho uJesu, iNdodana yomuntu, eza ezobhubhisa lesi simiso esibi sezinto. Ukuze kuzuze thina nalabo esikholwa nabo esibathandazelayo, kudingeka ‘sihlale siphapheme emthandazweni.’—Kolose 4:2; Efesu 6:18-20.
Isikhathi Siyaphela
15. Yini efezwa inkonzo yethu njengabashumayeli bokulunga?
15 Njengoba silindele usuku olukhulu lukaJehova, akungabazeki ukuthi sifisa ukwenza konke esingakwenza enkonzweni yakhe. Uma sithandaza kuye ngobuqotho ngalokhu, “umnyango omkhulu oholela emsebenzini” ungase usivulekele. (1 Korinte 16:8, 9) Ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esimisiwe, uJesu uyokhipha isahlulelo futhi ahlukanise “izimvu” ezilungileyo ezifanelwe ukuphila okumi phakade “ezimbuzini” ezingamhloniphi uNkulunkulu ezifanelwe ukubhujiswa kwaphakade. (Johane 5:22) Akuthina esihlukanisa izimvu ezimbuzini. Kodwa inkonzo yethu njengabashumayeli bokulunga manje inikeza abantu ithuba lokukhetha ukuphila kokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngaleyo ndlela babe nethemba lokuhlukaniselwa ukuphila lapho uJesu ‘efika enkazimulweni yakhe.’ Ubufushane besikhathi esisalele lesi simiso sezinto bugcizelela isidingo somsebenzi wenhliziyo yonke njengoba sifuna labo “abathambekele ngokufanele ekuphileni okumi phakade.”—Mathewu 25:31-46; IzEnzo 13:48.
16. Kungani kufanele sibe abamemezeli boMbuso abashisekayo?
16 Isikhathi saliphelela izwe losuku lukaNowa, futhi maduze nje sizophelela lesi simiso sezinto. Ngakho-ke masibe abamemezeli boMbuso abashisekayo. Umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela uyachuma, ngoba unyaka ngamunye amakhulu ezinkulungwane ayabhapathizwa njengophawu lokuzinikezela kwawo kuNkulunkulu. Aba ingxenye yenhlangano kaJehova ebusisiwe—“abantu bakhe nezimvu zedlelo lakhe.” (IHubo 100:3) Yeka injabulo okuyiyo ukuhlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso oletha ithemba kwabaningi kangaka ngaphambi ‘kosuku olukhulu nolwesabekayo lukaJehova’!
17, 18. (a) Njengoba sishumayela, yikuphi ukusabela okufanele sikulindele kwabanye? (b) Yini ngokuqinisekile eyofica abahleki bosulu?
17 NjengoNowa, sisekelwa futhi sivikelwe uNkulunkulu. Yebo, abantu, izingelosi ezaziguqula abantu, namaNefili kumelwe ukuba basiklolodela isigijimi sikaNowa, kodwa lokho akuzange kumvimbele. Namuhla, abanye bayakloloda lapho sibhekisela ebufakazini obukhulu bokuthi siphila “ezinsukwini zokugcina.” (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Ukuhleka usulu okunjalo kugcwalisa isiprofetho seBhayibheli esimayelana nokuba khona kukaKristu, ngoba uPetru wabhala: “Ezinsukwini zokugcina kuyofika abahleki bosulu nokuhleka kwabo usulu, beqhubeka ngokwezifiso zabo siqu futhi bethi: ‘Kuphi lokhu kuba khona kwakhe okuthenjisiwe? Phela, kusukela osukwini okhokho bethu abalala ngalo ekufeni, zonke izinto ziqhubeka ngokufana ncamashí nasekuqaleni kwendalo.’”—2 Petru 1:16; 3:3, 4.
18 Abahleki bosulu bosuku lwanamuhla bangase bacabange: ‘Akukho lutho olushintshile kusukela ekudalweni. Ukuphila kuyaqhubeka, njengoba abantu bedla, bephuza, beshada, futhi beba nemikhaya. Ngisho noma uJesu ekhona, ngeke asikhiphe osukwini lwethu isahlulelo.’ Yeka ukuthi banephutha kangakanani! Uma bengafi manje ngenxa yezinye izizathu, ngokuqinisekile usuku olwesabekayo lukaJehova luyobafica njengoba nembubhiso eyinhlekelele kuZamcolo yaphelisa isizukulwane esibi ngosuku lukaNowa.—Mathewu 24:34.
Noma Kungenzekani, Masihlale Siphapheme!
19. Kufanele siyibheke kanjani imisebenzi yethu yokwenza abafundi?
19 Uma sizinikezele kuJehova, kwangathi singelokothe silolozelwe ukucabanga okungafanele. Lesi isikhathi sokuhlala siphapheme, sibonise ukholo esiprofethweni saphezulu, futhi sifeze ukuthunywa kwethu ‘kokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi.’ (Mathewu 28:19, 20) Njengoba lesi simiso sizocoboshiswa, alikho ilungelo esingaba nalo elidlula ukukhonza uJehova uNkulunkulu ngaphansi kokuhola kukaJesu Kristu nokuhlanganyela emsebenzini womhlaba wonke wokushumayela “lezi zindaba ezinhle zombuso” ngaphambi kokuba ukuphela kufike.—Mathewu 24:14; Marku 13:10.
20. Yisiphi isibonelo esabekwa uKalebi noJoshuwa, futhi inkambo yabo isibonisani?
20 Abanye babantu bakaJehova sebemkhonze amashumi amaningi eminyaka, mhlawumbe konke ukuphila kwabo. Futhi ngisho noma sisanda kukwamukela ukukhulekela kweqiniso, kwangathi singaba njengoKalebi um-Israyeli ‘owalandela uJehova ngokupheleleyo.’ (Duteronomi 1:34-36) Yena noJoshuwa babekulungele ukungena eZweni Lesithembiso ngemva nje kokukhululwa kuka-Israyeli ebugqilini baseGibithe. Nokho, iningi lama-Israyeli asekhulile, lantula ukholo futhi kwadingeka lichithe iminyaka engu-40 ehlane, lapho lafela khona. UKalebi noJoshuwa bakhuthazelela ubunzima kanye nalo sonke leso sikhathi, kodwa ekugcineni lawo madoda amabili angena ezweni lesithembiso. (Numeri 14:30-34; Joshuwa 14:6-15) Uma ‘silandela uJehova ngokupheleleyo’ futhi sihlala siphapheme ngokomoya, siyojabulela ukungena ezweni likaNkulunkulu elisha elithenjisiwe.
21. Siyotholani uma sihlala siphapheme ngokomoya?
21 Ubufakazi bubonisa ngokucacile ukuthi siphila esikhathini sokuphela nokuthi usuku olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze. Lesi akusona isikhathi sokozela nokudebesela ekwenzeni intando yaphezulu. Siyobusiswa kuphela uma sihlala siphapheme ngokomoya futhi sigcina izingubo zethu ezisehlukanisayo njengezikhonzi ezingamaKristu nezinceku zikaJehova. Kwangathi singazimisela ‘ukuhlala siphapheme, sime siqinile okholweni, siqhubeke njengamadoda, sibe namandla.’ (1 Korinte 16:13) Njengezinceku zikaJehova, kwangathi ngamunye wethu angaqina futhi abe nesibindi. Khona-ke siyoba phakathi kwalabo abalulungele usuku olukhulu lukaJehova lapho lugadla, abakhonza ngokukholeka nalabo abajabulayo abahlala bephapheme.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Ungazichaza kanjani izingubo zethu zangaphandle ezingokomfanekiso, futhi singazigcina kanjani?
◻ Yiziphi ezinye izindlela zokuhlala siphapheme ngokomoya?
◻ Kungani kufanele silindele abahleki bosulu, futhi kufanele sibabheke kanjani?
◻ Kufanele siwubheke kanjani umsebenzi wethu wokwenza abafundi kulezi zinsuku zokugcina?
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 16]
AmaKristu asizwa umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu ukuba ahlale ephapheme futhi afeze imisebenzi yawo
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
Ingabe uzimisele ukuhlala uphapheme ngokomoya futhi ugcine izingubo zakho zangaphandle ezingokomfanekiso?