Hlala Uphapheme, Manje Kunanini Ngaphambili!

“Masingalali njengoba kwenza bonke abanye, kodwa masihlale siphapheme futhi sihlale sisangulukile.”—1 THESALONIKA 5:6.

1, 2. (a) IPompeii neHerculaneum kwakungamadolobha anjani? (b) Isiphi isixwayiso izakhamuzi eziningi zasePompeii naseHerculaneum ezingasishayanga mkhuba, kwaba namuphi umphumela?

EKHULWINI lokuqala leSikhathi sethu Esivamile, iPompeii neHerculaneum kwakungamadolobha amabili aseRoma achumile ayakhiwe ngaphansi kweNtaba iVesuvius. KumaRoma acebile, ayeyizindawo zokungcebeleka ayezithanda. Izinkundla zakhona zemidlalo zazingenela izibukeli ezingaphezu kwenkulungwane, futhi ePompeii kwakukhona inkundla yemidlalo enkulukazi eyayingahlalisa idolobha lonke. Abavubukula iPompeii bathola izindlu zokuphuzela utshwala ezingu-118, ezinye ezazisetshenziselwa ukugembula nokufeba. Ukuziphatha okubi nokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo kwakwandile, njengoba kuboniswa izithombe zasodongeni nezinye izinto ezasala.

² Ngo-August 24, 79 C.E., iNtaba iVesuvius yaqala ukuqhuma. Izazi zezintaba-mlilo zikholelwa ukuthi ukuqhuma kokuqala, okwehlisa imvula yelula (i-pumice) nomlotha kuwo womabili la madolobha, cishe kwakungeke kuzivimbe izakhamuzi ukuba zibaleke. Ngempela, kubonakala ukuthi eziningi zabaleka. Nokho, abanye abayeya ingozi noma abamane bangazishaya mkhuba izimpawu ezixwayisayo bakhetha ukuhlala. Kwathi phakathi kwamabili, kwadilika amatshe, ilula nesisi esishisayo kulakanyana, kwagcwala iHerculaneum, kwazifuthanisela zonke izakhamuzi ezazisele kulelo dolobha. Ngakusasa ekuseni, ukudilika okufanayo kwabulala bonke abantu basePompeii. Yeka umphumela obuhlungu wokungazilaleli izimpawu eziyisixwayiso!

Ukuphela Kwesimiso Sezinto SamaJuda

3. Ikuphi ukufana okukhona phakathi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema nokwasePompeii naseHerculaneum?

³ Ukuphela okunyantisayo kwePompeii neHerculaneum kwakungelutho uma kuqhathaniswa nokubhujiswa kweJerusalema okuyinhlekelele eminyakeni engu-9 ngaphambili, nakuba leyo nhlekelele yayenziwe abantu. Kuthiwa “kwakungokunye kokuvinjezelwa okubi kunakho konke emlandweni,” futhi kubikwa ukuthi kwabangela ukufa kwamaJuda angaphezu kwesigidi. Nokho, njengenhlekelele yasePompeii naseHerculaneum, ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema akwenzekanga ngaphandle kwesixwayiso.

4. Isiphi isibonakaliso esiyisiprofetho uJesu asinikeza ukuze axwayise abalandeli bakhe ukuthi ukuphela kwesimiso sezinto kwakuseduze, futhi sagcwaliseka kanjani okokuqala ekhulwini lokuqala?

⁴ UJesu Kristu wayekubikezele ukubhujiswa kwalo muzi, futhi ezishilo kusengaphambili izenzakalo ezimbi ezinjengezimpi, ukuswelakala kokudla, ukuzamazama komhlaba, nokungabi namthetho ezaziyokwandulela ukubhujiswa kwawo. Kwakuyoba khona abaprofethi bamanga, kodwa izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu zaziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke. (Mathewu 24:4-7, 11-14) Nakuba amazwi kaJesu egcwaliseka ikakhulu namuhla, agcwaliseka ngezinga elincane ngaleso sikhathi. Umlando uthi kwaba khona indlala enkulu eJudiya. (IzEnzo 11:28) Isazi-mlando uJosephus sibika ukuthi kwaba khona ukuzamazama komhlaba eJerusalema ngaphambi nje kokubhujiswa kwalo. Njengoba ukuphela kweJerusalema kwakusondela, kwakunezibhelu eziqhubekayo, izimpi phakathi kwamaqembu amaJuda ezombusazwe, nokubulawa kwabantu emadolobheni amaningana ahlala amaJuda nabeZizwe. Noma kunjalo, izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso zazishunyayelwa “kuyo yonke indalo engaphansi kwezulu.”—Kolose 1:23.

5, 6. (a) Imaphi amazwi kaJesu ayisiprofetho agcwaliseka ngo-66 C.E.? (b) Kungani kwafa abantu abaningi kangaka lapho ekugcineni iJerusalema liwa ngo-70 C.E.?

⁵ Ekugcineni, ngo-66 C.E., amaJuda awavukela amaRoma. Lapho uCestius Gallus ehola ibutho elaliyovimbezela iJerusalema, abalandeli bakaJesu bakhumbula amazwi aKhe athi: “Lapho nibona iJerusalema lihaqwe amabutho akanisile, khona-ke yazini ukuthi ukuchithwa kwalo sekusondele. Khona-ke labo abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni, abaphakathi kwalo baphume, abasemaphandleni bangangeni kulo.” (Luka 21:20, 21) Sase sifikile isikhathi sokuba baphume eJerusalema—kodwa kanjani? Kungalindelwe, uGallus wahoxisa amabutho akhe evulela amaKristu aseJerusalema naseJudiya intuba yokwenza okwakushiwo uJesu, ukubalekela ezintabeni.—Mathewu 24:15, 16.

⁶ Ngemva kweminyaka emine, cishe ngesikhathi sePhasika, amabutho amaRoma abuya esengaphansi kukaJenene Titus, owayezimisele ukukuqeda lokhu kuvukela kwamaJuda. Ibutho lakhe lalihaqa iJerusalema lakha “uthango ngezigxobo ezicijile,” okwenza kwangenzeka ukubaleka. (Luka 19:43, 44) Naphezu kosongo lwempi, amaJuda avela kuwo wonke uMbuso WaseRoma ayebuthene eJerusalema eze ePhasikeni. Manje ayesevalelekile. Ngokusho kukaJosephus, lezi zihambeli ezineshwa yizo ikakhulukazi ezafa kulokhu kuvimbezela kwamaRoma.a Lapho iJerusalema ekugcineni liwa, kwafa cishe umJuda oyedwa kwangu-7 kuwo wonke ayeseMbusweni WaseRoma. Ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema nethempeli lalo kwasho ukuphela kombuso wamaJuda nesimiso sawo senkolo esisekelwe eMthethweni KaMose.b—Marku 13:1, 2.

7. Yini eyenza amaKristu athembekile asinda ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema?

⁷ Ngo-70 C.E., amaKristu angamaJuda ayengabulawa noma enziwe izigqila kanye nabo bonke abanye eJerusalema. Nokho, ngokobufakazi bomlando, ayelalele isixwayiso sikaJesu ayesinikeze eminyakeni engu-37 eyedlule. Ayewushiyile umuzi angabuya.

Izixwayiso Zabaphostoli Ezifike Ngesikhathi

8. Isiphi isidingo uPetru asibona, futhi imaphi amazwi kaJesu okungenzeka wayecabanga ngawo?

⁸ Namuhla, kuza imbubhiso enkulu kakhulu, ezoqeda sonke lesi simiso sezinto. Kusasele iminyaka eyisithupha libhujiswe iJerusalema, umphostoli uPetru wanikeza iseluleko esiphuthumayo nesifike ngesikhathi esisebenza ikakhulukazi kumaKristu osuku lwethu: Hlalani niqaphile! UPetru wabona isidingo sokuba amaKristu avuse ‘amandla awo okucabanga ngokucacile’ ukuze angawushayi indiva ‘umyalo weNkosi,’ uJesu Kristu. (2 Petru 3:1, 2) Lapho ekhuthaza amaKristu ukuba ahlale ephapheme, cishe uPetru wayecabanga ngalokho ayekuzwe kushiwo uJesu kubaphostoli baKhe ezinsukwini ezimbalwa ngaphambi kokufa kwaKhe: “Hlalani nibhekile, nihlale niphapheme, ngoba anazi ukuthi sinini isikhathi esimisiwe.”—Marku 13:33.

9. (a) Isiphi isimo sengqondo esiyingozi abanye ababezoba naso? (b) Kungani ukungabaza kuyingozi ngokukhethekile?

⁹ Namuhla, abanye babuza ngokugcona bathi: “Kuphi lokhu kuba khona kwakhe okuthenjisiwe?” (2 Petru 3:3, 4) Kusobala ukuthi labo bantu bacabanga ukuthi izinto azishintshi ngempela ziqhubeka zinjengoba zazinjalo kusukela kwadalwa izwe. Ukungabaza okunjalo kuyingozi. Ukungabaza kungawenza buthaka umuzwa wethu wokuphuthuma, kusenze sikhukhulekele ekuzitikeni ngeminako yethu. (Luka 21:34) Ngaphandle kwalokho, njengoba uPetru ebonisa, labo bahleki bosulu bayawukhohlwa uZamcolo wosuku lukaNowa, owabhubhisa isimiso sezinto sezwe lonke. Lashintsha ngempela izwe ngaleso sikhathi!—Genesise 6:13, 17; 2 Petru 3:5, 6.

10. UPetru ubakhuthaza ngamaphi amazwi labo abangase baphelelwe isineke?

¹⁰ UPetru usiza abafundi bakhe bahlakulele ukubekezela ngokubakhumbuza ukuthi kungani ngokuvamile uNkulunkulu engathathi isinyathelo ngokushesha. Okokuqala, uPetru uthi: “Usuku olulodwa kuJehova lunjengeminyaka eyinkulungwane neminyaka eyinkulungwane injengosuku olulodwa.” (2 Petru 3:8) Njengoba uJehova ephila phakade, uyakwazi ukucabangela zonke izimo bese ekhetha isikhathi esingcono kunazo zonke sokuthatha isinyathelo. UPetru ube esekhuluma ngesifiso sikaJehova sokuba abantu kuyo yonke indawo baphenduke. Ukubekezela kukaNkulunkulu kusho ukusindiswa kwabaningi ababeyobhujiswa ukube wenza ngokuphamazela. (1 Thimothewu 2:3, 4; 2 Petru 3:9) Nokho, ukubekezela kukaJehova akusho ukuthi akasoze asithatha isinyathelo. “Usuku lukaJehova luyofika njengesela,” kusho uPetru.—2 Petru 3:10.

11. Yini engasisiza sihlale siphapheme ngokomoya, futhi lokho ‘kuyolusheshisa’ ngayiphi indlela usuku lukaJehova?

¹¹ Kuyaphawuleka ukuqhathanisa okwenziwa uPetru. Akulula ukubamba isela, kodwa umlindi ohlala ephapheme ubusuku bonke usethubeni elingcono lokubona isela kunomlindi olokhu ethatha isithongwane. Umlindi angahlala kanjani ephapheme? Ukuhambahamba kungamsiza ahlale eqaphile kunokuhlala phansi bonke ubusuku. Ngokufanayo, ukuhlala simatasa ngokomoya kuyosisiza njengamaKristu ukuba sihlale siphapheme. Ngakho, uPetru usikhuthaza ukuba sihlale simatasa “ezenzweni zokuziphatha ezingcwele nasezenzweni zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.” (2 Petru 3:11) Ukuba matasa kanjalo kuyosisiza sihlale ‘sikukhumbula njalo ukufika kosuku lukaJehova.’ Igama lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi “khumbula” lingahunyushwa ngokwezwi nezwi ngokuthi “sheshisa.” (2 Petru 3:12; umbhalo waphansi we-Ref. Bi.) Yiqiniso, asinakulushintsha uhlelo lukaJehova lwezikhathi. Usuku lwakhe luyofika ngehora alimise yena. Kodwa uma simatasa enkonzweni, isikhathi singabonakala sihamba ngokushesha kuze kufike leso sikhathi.—1 Korinte 15:58.

12. Njengomuntu ngamunye, singasizakala kanjani ngokubekezela kukaJehova?

¹² Ngakho, noma ubani ocabanga ukuthi usuku lukaJehova luyephuza ukhuthazwa ukuba alalele iseluleko sikaPetru sokusilinda ngesineke isikhathi sikaJehova asimisile. Ngempela, singasisebenzisa ngokuhlakanipha lesi sikhathi esengeziwe esisithola ngokubekezela kukaNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, singaqhubeka sihlakulela izimfanelo zobuKristu futhi sishumayela izindaba ezinhle kubantu abengeziwe ebesingeke sibafinyelele. Uma sihlala siphapheme, uJehova uyosithola ‘singenabala, singenasici futhi sisekuthuleni’ ekupheleni kwalesi simiso sezinto. (2 Petru 3:14, 15) Akuve kuyoba isibusiso lokho!

13. Imaphi amazwi kaPawulu awabhalela amaKristu aseThesalonika afaneleka ngokukhethekile namuhla?

¹³ UPawulu naye, encwadini yakhe yokuqala eya kumaKristu aseThesalonika, ukhuluma ngesidingo sokuhlala siphapheme. Weluleka athi: “Masingalali njengoba kwenza bonke abanye, kodwa masihlale siphapheme futhi sihlale sisangulukile.” (1 Thesalonika 5:2, 6) Yeka ukuthi lokho kudingeke kangakanani namuhla njengoba ukubhujiswa kwaso sonke isimiso sezwe sezinto kusondela! Abakhulekeli bakaJehova baphila ezweni eligcwele abantu abangenaso isithakazelo ezintweni ezingokomoya, futhi lokho kungabathinta. Ngakho, uPawulu uyeluleka: “Masihlale sisangulukile futhi sigqoke isivikelo sesifuba sokholo nothando, sifake nethemba lensindiso.” (1 Thesalonika 5:8) Ukutadisha njalo iZwi likaNkulunkulu nokuhlangana njalo nabafowethu emihlanganweni kuyosisiza silalele iseluleko sikaPawulu futhi sigcine umuzwa wethu wokuphuthuma.—Mathewu 16:1-3.

Izigidi Zihlala Zilindile

14. Imaphi amanani abonisa ukuthi abaningi namuhla balandela iseluleko sikaPetru sokuhlala siphapheme?

¹⁴ Ingabe bakhona abaningi namuhla abasilalelayo isikhuthazo esiphefumulelwe sokuhlala siqaphile? Yebo. Ngonyaka wenkonzo ka-2002, abamemezeli abayinani eliphakeme elingu-6 304 645—ukwanda ngamaphesenti angu-3,1 ngaphezu kuka-2001—banikeza ubufakazi bokuqapha ngokomoya ngokusebenzisa amahora angu-1 202 381 302 bekhuluma nabanye ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kulaba, lo msebenzi kwakungewona owokuqeda isizungu. Wawuyingxenye eyinhloko yokuphila kwabo. Isimo sengqondo sabaningi babo sibonakala ku-Eduardo noNoemi base-El Salvador.

15. Ikuphi okwenzeka e-El Salvador okubonisa ukuthi abaningi bahlala beqaphile ngokomoya?

¹⁵ Eminyakeni eminingi edlule, u-Eduardo noNoemi baqaphela amazwi kaPawulu athi: “Isimo saleli zwe siyashintsha.” (1 Korinte 7:31) Benza ukuphila kwabo kwaba lula base bengenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Njengoba isikhathi sasiqhubeka, babusiswa ngezindlela eziningi baze baba nanengxenye emsebenzini wokuhambela izifunda nezigodi. Naphezu kokubhekana nezinkinga ezinkulu, u-Eduardo noNoemi bayaqiniseka ukuthi benza isinqumo esikahle lapho bedela ukunethezeka bengenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Abaningi kubamemezeli abangu-29 269—okuhlanganisa namaphayona angu-2 454 —e-El Salvador baye babonisa umoya ofanayo wokuzidela, okungesinye sezizathu zokuba inani labamemezeli kulelo zwe lande ngamaphesenti amabili ngonyaka odlule.

16. Isiphi isimo sengqondo esaboniswa umzalwane osemusha eCôte d’Ivoire?

¹⁶ ECôte d’Ivoire, isimo sengqondo esifanayo saboniswa yinsizwa engumKristu eyabhalela ihhovisi legatsha yathi: “Ngikhonza njengenceku ekhonzayo. Kodwa angikwazi ukutshela abazalwane ukuba baphayone mina ngokwami ngibe ngingasibeki isibonelo esihle. Ngakho ngishiye umsebenzi oholela kahle futhi manje ngiyazisebenza, okunginika isikhathi esengeziwe senkonzo.” Le nsizwa yaba phakathi kwamaphayona angu-983 akhonza ezweni laseCôte d’Ivoire, elabika abamemezeli abangu-6 701 ngonyaka odlule, ukwanda ngamaphesenti amahlanu.

17. UFakazi osemusha eBelgium wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayengesatshiswa ubandlululo?

¹⁷ Ukungabekezelelani, ukubandlulula, nokucwasa abanye kuyaqhubeka kubabangela izinkinga abamemezeli boMbuso abangu-24 961 baseBelgium. Noma kunjalo, bayashiseka futhi abesabi. Lapho uFakazi oneminyaka engu-16 ubudala ezwa oFakazi BakaJehova bechazwa njengehlelo ngenkathi kufundwa ngezimiso zokuhle esikoleni, wacela imvume yokuchaza ngoFakazi BakaJehova. Esebenzisa i-video ethi Jehovah’s Witnesses—The Organization Behind the Name nencwajana ethi OFakazi BakaJehova—Bangobani?, wakwazi ukuchaza ukuthi oFakazi bangobani ngempela. Bakuthanda kakhulu lokho abakubona nabakuzwa, kwathi ngesonto elilandelayo abafundi banikwa isivivinyo esasibuza ngenkolo yobuKristu yoFakazi BakaJehova kuphela.

18. Ibuphi ubufakazi obukhona bokuthi izinkinga zomnotho azibaphazamisanga abamemezeli base-Argentina naseMozambique ekukhonzeni uJehova?

¹⁸ AmaKristu amaningi abhekana nezinkinga ezinkulu kulezi zinsuku zokugcina. Noma kunjalo, azama ukungaphazanyiswa. Naphezu kwezinkinga zezomnotho ezaziwayo, i-Argentina ibike inani elisha eliphakeme loFakazi abangu-126 709 ngonyaka odlule. Kusenendlala enkulu eMozambique. Nokho, abangu-37 563 babika umsebenzi wabo wokushumayela, ukwanda ngamaphesenti amane. Abaningi baphila kanzima e-Albania, nokho lelo zwe labika ukwanda okuhle ngamaphesenti angu-12, lafinyelela inani eliphakeme labamemezeli abangu-2 708. Ngokusobala, umoya kaJehova awuvinjwa izimo ezinzima uma izinceku zakhe zibeka izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala.—Mathewu 6:33.

19. (a) Yini enikeza ubufakazi bokuthi kusenabantu abaningi abanjengezimvu abalambele iqiniso leBhayibheli? (b) Imiphi eminye imininingwane yombiko wonyaka ebonisa ukuthi izinceku zikaJehova zihlala ziphapheme ngokomoya? (Bheka ishadi elisemakhasini 12-15.)

¹⁹ Isilinganiso sanyanga zonke sezifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-5 309 289 ezabikwa emhlabeni wonke ngonyaka odlule sibonisa ukuthi basebaningi abantu abanjengezimvu abalambele iqiniso leBhayibheli. Enanini elisha eliphakeme labangu-15 597 746 ababekhona eSikhumbuzweni, abaningi abakamkhonzi uJehova. Kwangathi lungaqhubeka lukhula ulwazi lwabo nothando lwabo ngoJehova nangabazalwane. Kuvusa amadlingozi ukubona ukuthi “isixuku esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu’ siyaqhubeka sikhiqiza njengoba sikhonza uMdali “imini nobusuku ethempelini lakhe” sikanye nabafowabo abagcotshwe ngomoya.—IsAmbulo 7:9, 15; Johane 10:16.

Esikufunda KuLoti

20. Yini esiyifunda esibonelweni sikaLoti nomkakhe?

²⁰ Yiqiniso, ngisho nezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile zingase zilahlekelwe okwesikhashana umuzwa wazo wokuphuthuma. Cabanga ngoLoti, indodana yomfowabo ka-Abrahama. Watshelwa izingelosi ezimbili ezazimvakashele ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayesezolibhubhisa iSodoma neGomora. Lezi zindaba azimmangazanga uLoti, “owayecindezeleke kakhulu ngokuzitika kwabantu abadelela umthetho ekuziphatheni okubi.” (2 Petru 2:7) Nakuba kunjalo, lapho lezi zingelosi ezimbili zifika zizomkhipha eSodoma, ‘walokhu elibala.’ Izingelosi zaze zacishe zamhudulela ngaphandle komuzi yena nomkhaya wakhe. Kamuva, umkaLoti akasinakanga isixwayiso sezingelosi sokuba angabheki emuva. Ukudebesela kwakhe kwamlahlekisela ngokuphila kwakhe. (Genesise 19:14-17, 26) “Khumbulani umkaLoti,” kuxwayisa uJesu.—Luka 17:32.

21. Kungani kubalulekile ukuhlala siphapheme manje kunanini ngaphambili?

²¹ Inhlekelele yasePompeii naseHerculaneum nezenzakalo ezihlobene nokubhujiswa kweJerusalema, kanye nesibonelo sikaZamcolo wosuku lukaNowa nesikaLoti, konke kubonisa ukubaluleka kokuzilalela izixwayiso. Njengezinceku zikaJehova, siyasiqaphela isibonakaliso sesikhathi sokuphela. (Mathewu 24:3) Sizihlukanisile nenkolo yamanga. (IsAmbulo 18:4) NjengamaKristu ekhulu lokuqala, kudingeka ‘sikukhumbule njalo ukufika kosuku lukaJehova.’ (2 Petru 3:12) Yebo, kudingeka sihlale siphapheme manje kunanini ngaphambili! Iziphi izinyathelo esingazithatha, futhi iziphi izimfanelo esingazihlakulela ukuze sihlale siphapheme? Isihloko esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngalezo zinto.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

Ungaphendula Kanjani?

• Isiphi isenzakalo esenza amaKristu angamaJuda asinda ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema?

• Iseluleko esisezincwadini zabaphostoli uPetru noPawulu sisisiza kanjani ukuba sihlale siphapheme?

• Obani namuhla abanikeza ubufakazi bokuthi baphapheme ngokugcwele?

• Sifundani endabeni kaLoti nomkakhe?

[Ishadi ekhasini 12-15]

UMBIKO WONYAKA WENKONZO KA-2002 WOFAKAZI BAKAJEHOVA EMHLABENI WONKE

(Bheka umqulu)

[Isithombe ekhasini 9]

Ngo-66 C.E., umphakathi wamaKristu eJerusalema wasilalela isixwayiso sikaJesu

[Izsithombe ekhasini 10]

Ukuhlala ematasa kusiza amaKristu ahlale ephapheme