Isahluko 7
Iya Kufika Nini Intshabalalo Yehlabathi Eyaxelwa Kwangaphambili?
1. Yiyiphi injongo ezukileyo uThixo anayo ngoluntu?
ENJANI inkululeko ebekuya kuba yiyo ukubona imfazwe, ulwaphulo-mthetho nokungcoliswa komhlaba kupheliswa! Hayi indlela ebekuya kuyolisa ngayo ukuphila phantsi kolawulo lobulungisa bokwenyaniso, apho ubani nentsapho yakhe bebeya kunqabiseka ngokupheleleyo! IBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba uThixo uya kuzenza ezi zinto zibe zezokoqobo. Kodwa nini?
2. (a) Xa “imini yeNkosi” ifika, ngoobani eya kubafikela ngebhaqo? (b) Sinokukuphepha njani oko ukuba kungenzeki kuthi?
2 Ngokuphathelele intshabalalo yehlabathi evulel’ indlela uLungelelwaniso Olutsha lukaThixo, umpostile uPawulos uthi: “Imini yeNkosi, njengesela ebusuku, yenjenjalo ukuza kwayo.” Wongezelela ngokuthi: “Ke nina, bazalwana, anisebumnyameni, ukuba imini leyo iniqubule njengesela.” (1 Tesalonika 5:2, 4) Ngoko xa “imini yeNkosi” ifika, abo bangazithobeliyo izilumkiso baya kuba njengezilwanyana ezibanjiswe ngequbuliso kwisabatha. Kodwa oko akufuneki kwenzeke kuwe. Njengokuba isibhalo sichaza, kukho abantu abangekho “bumnyameni.” Oku kungenxa yokuba bayaphanda baze bakuthabathele entliziyweni okuthethwa liLizwi likaThixo ngomhla wethu.—Luka 21:34-36.
3, 4. (a) Icaciswe phi intsingiselo epheleleyo yeziganeko zenkulungwane yama-20? (b) Ziziphi iingongoma ezintlanu eziziintloko ezandlalwe kwisiprofeto seBhayibhile esiza kuzihlola ngoku?
3 IBhayibhile izichaza ngokucacileyo iziganeko zale nkulungwane yama-20. Kodwa yakwenza oku kwiminyaka enokuba ngamawaka amabini ngaphambili! Ngoxa uninzi lweziganeko luqhelekile, yiBhayibhile kuphela eyalatha intsingiselo yazo epheleleyo.
4 Kwinkcazelo yesiprofeto esiseBhayibhileni nengomhla wethu kukho ezi nkcukacha zilandelayo: (1) Unyaka ongqalileyo waxa uThixo wayeya kunikela ngawo ‘ubukumkani babantu’ kulowo “athanda ukumnika.” (2) Iziganeko ezinentsingiselo ezaziya kwenzeka ebudeni bexesha elaziwa ‘njengokupheliswa kwephakade.’ (3) Iziganeko zonqulo eziphawulekayo zelo xesha. (4) Ukusinda ubuncinane kwabathile besizukulwana esabona ukuqaleka ‘kokupheliswa kwephakade.’ (5) Isiganeko esikhwankqisayo kwimicimbi yehlabathi njengomqondiso wokugqibela wokuba intshabalalo yehlabathi isondele. Makhe sihlolisise ezi ngongoma.
(1) Unyaka Ophawulekayo—1914 C.E.
5. Kwaba ngaliphi ixesha awathi amaNgqina kaYehova aqonda ukuba iBhayibhile yalatha kowe-1914 C.E. njengonyaka onentsingiselo?
5 Emva phaya ngowe-1876, amaNgqina kaYehova aqonda ukuba isiprofeto seBhayibhile saphawula unyaka we-1914 C.E. njengexesha lokwenzeka kweziganeko ezikhulu ezaziya kuba nemiphumo efikelela kude kwimicimbi yabantu. Isizathu sesi sibakala asipapasha ngokubanzi.
6. (a) Yintoni exutyushwa kuDaniyeli 4:2, 3, 17? (b) Ngubani “lowo” uYehova amnika ‘ubukumkani’?
6 Ukuba utyhila iBhayibhile yakho kuDaniyeli isahluko 4, uya kufumana isiprofeto esityhila injongo kaThixo ngokubhekisele kulongamo phezu komhlaba. Injongo yokuzaliseka kweso siprofeto ichazwe ngokuthi “bazi abahleliyo, ukuba Osenyangweni unegunya ebukumkanini babantu, abunike lowo athanda ukumnika.” (Dan 4 Indinyana 2, 3, 17) “Lowo” Osenyangweni amnika ‘ubukumkani’ nguKristu Yesu. Ibe incwadi yokugqibela yeBhayibhile ibalisa ngexesha lokunikwa kwakhe “izikumkani zehlabathi” njengoKumkani wasezulwini. (ISityhilelo 11:15; 12:10) Ngoko, oku kuthetha ukuba isiprofeto sikaDaniyeli sithetha ngexesha laxa uThixo wayeya kuphazamisa imicimbi yabantu ngokuzinika uYesu Kristu “izikumkani zehlabathi.” Esi siprofeto sikubonisa kuya kuba nini oko?
7. (a) Liyintoni iphupha lesiprofeto elichazwa kuDaniyeli 4:10-16? (b) Lasebenza njani kuKumkani uNebhukadenetsare?
7 Iphupha lesiprofeto elikuDaniyeli lichaza ngomthi omkhulu owagawulelwa phantsi waza waphanjwa ngesinyithi nangobhedu de kwadlula ‘amaxesha asixhenxe’ phezu kwawo. Ebudeni belo xesha, wawuza kunikwa “intliziyo yenkomo.” (Daniyeli 4:10-16) Kwakuthetha ntoni oku? UThixo wabangela uDaniyeli acacise ngokuthi: UNebhukadenetsare, ukumkani waseBhabhiloni, wayeya kuphulukana nengqondo aze ashenxiswe kwitrone yakhe aze agxothwe ebantwini ukuba aphile njengenkomo. Emva kweminyaka esixhenxe ingqondo kakumkani yayiya kubuya. Oku kwenzeka ngokwenene kukumkani, ibe wabuyiselwa etroneni yakhe njengalowo wavuma ukongama kolawulo lukaThixo. (Daniyeli 4:20-37) Noko ke, konke oku kwakunentsingiselo enkulu ngakumbi, ibe ukubhalwa kwako eBhayibhileni kungeso sizathu.
8. (a) Intsingiselo enkulu ngakumbi yesiprofeto ihlobene nabuphi ubukumkani? (b) Kwinzaliseko enkulu ngakumbi, yintoni emelwa kukugawulelwa phantsi komthi, ibe ‘intliziyo yenkomo yanikelwa njani kuwo’?
8 Intsingiselo enkulu ngakumbi ihlobene nolawulo olunamandla ngakumbi olwaluya kuzuzisa zonke izinto eziphilileyo emhlabeni. Isiprofeto sithi, kolu lawulo kwakuya kubakho ‘ukudla okwanele iinto zonke,’ kuze kukhuselwe kwanezilwanyana neentaka. (Daniyeli 4:12) Okuphela kolawulo olunokulungiselela ezi ngenelo ngokwenyaniso buBukumkani bukaThixo. Imigaqo yobulungisa yalo rhulumente yabonakaliswa yimbali kaYuda, nookumkani bakhe bokuqala eYerusalem. Kodwa ngenxa yokungathembeki, uYehova wavumela uYuda ukuba oyiswe yiBhabhiloni ngowama-607 B.C.E. Kwaba ngathi umthi osephupheni wawugawulelwe phantsi saza isiphunzi sawo saphanjwa ukuze singakhuli. Ngaphandle kokuphazamisa kukaThixo, oorhulumente beentlanga baye balilawula ihlabathi ukususela ngoko. Ekubeni ezi zikumkani zeentlanga eBhayibhileni zimelwa ‘ngamarhamncwa,’ kwabangathi isithunywa sezulu esivela ezulwini sasivakalise sathi: “Anikwe intliziyo yenkomo; kudlule amaxesha amisiweyo abe sixhenxe phezu kwakhe.” (Daniyeli 4:16; 8:1-8, 20-22) Kodwa ekugqibeleni, loo ‘maxesha asixhenxe’ okulawula koorhulumente abanjengerhamncwa ayeya kuphela. Ngoko ‘imiphambo’ yayiya kususwa, uze ‘lo mthi’ ukhule kwakhona njengokuba ulawulo lwehlabathi lwaqalisa ukuphunyezwa ngulowo uYehova wayeya kumnika “izikumkani zehlabathi.”
9, 10. (a) Ngokubala ubude ‘bamaxesha asixhenxe,’ ‘ixesha’ ngalinye lingqineka lilide kangakanani, ibe iBhayibhile ikubonisa njani oku? (b) Aqala nini ‘amaxesha asixhenxe,’ mingaphi iminyaka ayigubungelayo, ibe aphela nini?
9 Loo ‘maxesha asixhenxe’ ayemade kangakanani? Ayengaphezulu lee kwiminyaka esixhenxe, kuba kwiinkulungwane kamva uYesu Kristu wabonisa ukuba la ‘maxesha eentlanga’ ayesaqhubeka. Zazilawula ihlabathi ukususela ekoyiseni kweBhabhiloni iYerusalem ngowama-607 B.C.E. ibe zaziza kuqhubeka zisenjenjalo okwexesha elithile.—Luka 21:24.
10 Zibonele ngokwakho indlela iBhayibhile ebhekisela ngayo ‘kumaxesha’ esiprofeto. ISityhilelo 11:2, 3 sibonisa ukuba imihla eli-1 260 iyila iinyanga ezingama-42, okanye iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha. ISityhilelo 12:6, 14 sikhankanya kwainani elifanayo lemihla (1 260) kodwa sibhekisela kuyo ngokuthi “ixesha [1], namaxesha [2], nesiqingatha sexesha,” okanye “amaxesha” amathathu anesiqingatha. Ngalinye laloo “maxesha” liyimihla engama-360 (3 1/2 × 360 = 1 260). Mhla ngamnye wala ‘maxesha’ esiprofeto umela unyaka uphela ngokomgaqo, “umhla ube ngumnyaka.” (Numeri 14:34; Hezekile 4:6) Ngaloo ndlela ‘amaxesha asixhenxe’ ayiminyaka engama-2 520 (7 × 360). Xa sibala sisusela ekwindla (yomntla weikhweyitha) yowama-607 B.C.E., xa ubukumkani bukaThixo bokomfuziselo bakwaYuda bathotywayo yiBhabhiloni, iminyaka engama-2 520 isifikisa kukwindla (lomntla weikhweyitha) lowe-1914 C.E. (606 1/4 + 1913 3/4 = 2 520) Lowo ngunyaka waxa “izikumkani zehlabathi” zazifanele ziphathiswe uYesu Kristu.
11. Bathini ababhali-mbali ngokubalasela konyaka we-1914?
11 Emva kokuchaza ukuba iBhayibhile yalatha kowe-1914, amaNgqina kaYehova kwafuneka elinde kangangamashumi aliqela eminyaka ngaphambi kokubona umphumo. Ekuqalekeni kowe-1914 uxolo lwehlabathi lwenza kwabaninzi kwabonakala ngathi akukho nto iza kwenzeka. Kodwa kuthe lingekapheli ihlobo (lomntla weikhweyitha), intembelo yamaNgqina yaqiniswa xa ihlabathi leyela emfazweni engenakulinganiswa nanto. Kuhlolisiso lwencwadi ethi 1914, umbhali-mbali uA. L. Rowse wabhala oku: “Ukuba wawukhe wakho unyaka owaphawula ukuphela kwesizukulwana nokuqala kwesinye, waba ngowe-1914. Loo nyaka waliphelisa ihlabathi elidala nengqiqo yalo yonqabiseko waza waqalisa isizukulwana sakalokunje, esibalaseliswe kukunganqabiseki okusisabelo sethu semihla ngemihla.”44 Ingxelo engesithethi sikarhulumente saseBritani uWinston Churchill yathi: “Isithonga esadutyulwayo ngoJuni 28, 1914, eSarajevo, saliphanzisa ihlabathi lonqabiseko nokucinga okwakhayo . . . Ihlabathi alizange libuye libe kwindawo efanayo ukususela ngoko. . . . Kwaba kukuguquka kwezinto, laza ihlabathi elimangalisayo, elizolileyo, elinomtsalane layizolo lathi shwaka, ukuba lingabuyi libekho.”45 Loo nyaka, owaphawulwa sisiprofeto seBhayibhile kwiinkulungwane ngaphambilana, ngokwenene wangqineka ungowokuguquka kwezinto embalini.
12. Sasiyintoni isizathu sesidubedube esikhulu emicimbini yabantu ngowe-1914 nasemva koko?
12 Kuqala kusenokubonakala kumangalisa ukuba ukubekw’ etroneni kukaKristu kwakuya kuphawulwa yimfazwe engenakulinganiswa nanto emhlabeni. Kodwa musa ukulibala ukuba “umphathi weli hlabathi” nguSathana uMtyholi. (Yohane 14:30) Wayengafuni ukubona uBukumkani bukaThixo bulawula imicimbi yomhlaba. Ukuze atyekise ingqalelo kuBukumkani, waphembelela abantu ukuba bayile imfazwe ukuze baphakamise amabango abo olongamo. Ukongezelela, iBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba uSathana needemon zakhe bazabalazela ukuqwenga urhulumente obuBukumkani ekuzalweni kwakhe. Waba yintoni umphumo? “Kwabakho imfazwe emazulwini, . . . Yaphoswa phantsi inamba enkulu, inyoka yakudala, leyo kuthiwa nguMtyholi, uSathana ke, lowo ulilahlekisayo elimiweyo liphela; yaphoswa emhlabeni, nezithunywa zayo zaphoswa kunye nayo.” Ekubeni wayesalelwe ‘lixesha elincinane,’ umsindo wakhe wawumkhulu. (ISityhilelo 12:3-12) Kwiinkulungwane ezilishumi elinesithoba kusengaphambili iBhayibhile yanikela ingcaciso echanileyo yomphumo.
(2) Iziganeko Ezinentsingiselo Ekhethekileyo
13. Yintoni eyakhokelela ekuchazeni kukaYesu ‘umqondiso wokufika kwakhe nowokupheliswa kwephakade’?
13 Ngonyaka wama-33 C.E., uYesu ngokweenkcukacha wachaza ‘umqondiso wokufika kwakhe nowokupheliswa kwephakade.’ Oku kubhalwe kuMateyu isahluko 24 nesama-25, kuMarko 13, nakuLuka 21. Ngoxa wayeneqela labafundi bakhe eYerusalem, uYesu wayexele kwangaphambili ngentshabalalo yetempile apho. Bandula ke abafundi bakhe bambuza oku: “Sixelele ukuba ziya kubakho nini na ezo zinto; uya kuba yini na umqondiso wokufika kwakho, nowokupheliswa kwephakade eli?”—Mateyu 24:1-3.
14. Chaza ezinye zeziganeko ezibalaseleyo ezaqukwa nguYesu ‘kumqondiso.’
14 Xa wayephendula uYesu wathi: “Niya kuthi ke nive iimfazwe namarhe eemfazwe; lumkani ningabi navuso, kuba zonke ezo zinto zimele ukuhla; kanti kona ukuphela akukabikho. Kuba uhlanga luya kuvukelana nohlanga, nobukumkani buvukelane nobukumkani; kuya kubakho iindlala, neendyikitya zokufa, nezinyikimo zomhlaba kwiindawo ngeendawo. Zonke ke ezo zinto zikukuqaleka kwenimba.” Njengoko uLuka 21:11 ebonisa, wakwakhankanya ‘iindyikitya zokufa kwiindawo ngeendawo.’ Walumkisa ‘ngokwanda kokuchasa umthetho.’ Ibe ngenxa yoku, wathi “luya kuphola uthando lwabaninzi.” Kwakhona, ngokuphawulekayo, waxela kwangaphambili wathi: “Ezi ndaba zilungileyo zobukumkani ziya kuvakaliswa kulo elimiweyo liphela, zibe bubungqina kuzo zonke iintlanga; kwandule ke ukufika ukuphela.”—Mateyu 24:4-14.
15, 16. (a) Ngaba naziphi na iziprofeto zikaYesu zazaliseka ngaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem ngowama-70 C.E.? (b) Sazi njani ukuba kumele kubekho kwanenye inzaliseko, ede yabaluleka ngakumbi?
15 Kodwa umbuzo osenokubuzwa ngulo: ‘Ngaba inxalenye yezo ziprofeto ayizange izalisekiswe ngaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem ngamaRoma ngonyaka wama-70 C.E.?’ Ewe, ezinye zazaliseka. Kodwa kwakuza kuza okungaphezulu, njengoko iziprofeto zibonisa. Kuyinyaniso ukuba, uYesu wayephendula umbuzo owawungokuxhalabela into eyayisondela kubafundi bakhe. Kodwa eli thuba walisebenzisela ukunikela inkcazelo yexesha elide malunga nexesha laxa “uNyana womntu” awayeza kuza ngalo “enamandla nobuqaqawuli obukhulu” nangexesha laxa ‘ubukumkani bukaThixo’ babuya kube bukufuphi.—Luka 21:27, 31.
16 Kakade ke, ezi zinto azizange zenzeke ngexesha lokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem ngowama-70 C.E. Incwadi yokugqibela yeBhayibhile, eyabhalwa malunga nowama-96 C.E., ibonisa ukuba ezi ziganeko zingoBukumkani zazizezelixa elizayo. (ISityhilelo 1:1; 11:15-18; 12:3-12) Ngentetho efuziselayo ISityhilelo sibonisa ukuba iimfazwe, ukunqongophala kokudla, iindyikitya zokufa uYesu awazixela kwangaphambili zaziya kuba ziziganeko zexa elizayo, yaye zenzeke ngendlel’ engaqhelekanga. Zaziya kuphawula ixesha laxa uKristu wayeya kuqala aze alugqibe ngalo uloyiso lwakhe kubo bonke abachasi boBukumkani bukaThixo. (ISityhilelo 6:1-8) Isibakala sokuba iinxalenye ezithile zesiprofeto sikaYesu zazaliseka kwinkulungwane yokuqala sasiphawula njengesiyinyaniso, sinikela isizathu esiphilileyo sokuba nentembelo kuzo zonke ezinye izinto uYesu awathi zaziya kwenzeka.
17. Ngaba iimeko ezisehlabathini namhlanje zahluke kwaphela kwinto ezaziyiyo ngaphambi kowe-1914?
17 Ngaba ezi ziprofeto ziye zazaliseka ngendlela enkulu ngakumbi nepheleleyo kule nkulungwane yama-20? Abantu abangenalwazi abanganeno kwama-70 eminyaka ubudala basenokuba noluvo lokuba amaxesha ethu aqhelekile kuba bengalikhumbuli ixesha laxa izinto zazingenje. Kodwa abantu abakhulu kunye nabo bayaziyo imbali, bazi okwahlukileyo. Kunjengokuba enye incwadi yembali yathi ngeziganeko zowe-1914: “Lishumi elinesihlanu kuphela lamazwe elingazange libandakanyeke emfazweni . . . Kodwa phakathi kwawo kwakungekho lizwe likhulu elalinganamandla okusebenza njengomlamleli woxolo. Oku kwakungazange kwenzeke embalini yehlabathi; akukho mfazwe yakha yankulu kangako. Isiprofeto seBhayibhile Engcwele esithi: ‘Uhlanga luya kuvukelana nohlanga nobukumkani buvukelane nobukumkani,’ sazaliseka ngokoqobo.”46
18. Kungani besiya kuphosisa ukuba besingagqiba kwelokuba imfazwe ekho ngokubanzi yayikukuphela kwento ekhoyo ‘kumqondiso’?
18 Kodwa izinto ezinjalo zazingeyonxalenye nje kuphela yoko kwachazwa nguYesu kusiya ‘kuba ngumqondiso.’ Esebenzisa umzekeliso, wathi: “Wukhangeleni umkhiwane nemithi yonke; xa iselithe yavelisa amagqabi, niyabona nazi ngokwenu ukuba ihlobo selikufuphi. Kwangokunjalo nani, xa nithe nazibona ezi zinto zisihla, yazini ukuba bukufuphi ubukumkani bukaThixo. Inene ndithi kuni, Asiyi kukha sidlule esi sizukulwana, zide zihle zonke ezi zinto.” (Luka 21:29-32) Ukuba ubungabona umthi nje omnye uvelisa amagqabi kungekabilixesha, ubungenakucinga ukuba ihlobo likufuphi. Kodwa xa ubona yonke imithi iphuma amathupha ngexesha elifanelekileyo, uyakwazi okuthethwa koko. Ngokunjalo, uYesu waxela kwangaphambili ukuba “ukufika” kwakhe ‘nokupheliswa kwephakade’ kwakuya kuphawulwa kungekuphela nje yimfazwe kodwa kwakuya kuphawulwa liqela lezinto zonke ezenzeka ngexesha lokuphila kwesizukulwana esinye.
19. (a) Njengoko kuboniswa kwisicangca esilandelayo, zizalisekiswe njani iimbalasane ezahlukahlukeneyo ‘zomqondiso’ ukususela ngowe-1914? (b) Kungani iimfazwe, ukunqongophala kokudla, iinyikima zomhlaba zangaphambili, njalo njalo, zingayili ‘umqondiso,’ uYesu awathetha ngawo?
19 Ngaba zenzekile ezo zinto? Njengoko uhlolisisa isicangca esilandelayo esinomxholo othi “Uya Kuba Yini Na Umqondiso?” usenokukhumbula ufunda ngeemfazwe zeenkulungwane zangaphambili. Kodwa iMfazwe Yehlabathi I ibalasele kuzo zonke ezinye ngokuba yeyahlukileyo nangokuphawula ukuguquka kwezinto embalini. Kwakhona, usenokukhumbula ukuba ukunqongophala kokudla, iindyikitya zokufa, iinyikima zomhlaba, amaxesha okuchas’ umthetho kwanemigudu engaqhelekanga yokukhuthazwa koxolo nonqabiseko konke kwathi kwenzeka ngaphambi kowe-1914. Kanti, akukho nalinye ixesha embalini ezathi zonke ezi zinto zasifikela isizukulwana esinye ngomlinganiselo okhwankqisa ngolu hlobo. Ngako konke ukunyaniseka, ukuba iziganeko ezisusela kowe-1914 aziwuzalisekisi umqondiso, yintoni engakumbi efunwayo? Ngokungathandabuzekiyo, siphila kwixesha ‘lokufika’ kukaYesu esemandleni oBukumkani.
20, 21. Iziganeko ezinxulumene neMfazwe Yehlabathi I zangqineka njani “zikukuqaleka kwenimba” nje kuphela, njengoko uYesu waxela kwangaphambili?
20 Imbonakalo yezi mbalasane ‘zomqondiso’ ayizange ithethe ukuba uBukumkani bukaThixo babuya kuthi ngokukhawuleza bukhucule ubungendawo emhlabeni. Kunjengoko uYesu waxela kwangaphambili wathi, “zonke ke ezo zinto zikukuqaleka kwenimba.” (Mateyu 24:8) Ezinye zaziza kulandela. IThe World Book Encyclopedia ithi: “IMfazwe Yehlabathi I nemiphumo yayo yakhokelela ekudodobaleni okukhulu gqitha ngokoqoqosho embalini ebudeni beminyaka yee-1930. Imiphumo yemfazwe neengxaki zokuhlengahlengisela kuxolo yakhokelela kwizidubedube phantse kuzo zonke iintlanga.”47 Kwiminyaka embalwa kamva iMfazwe Yehlabathi II yaqhambuka. Yayiqhiphul’ umbilini ngaphezulu kunene kuneyokuqala. Ukususela ngoko, ukungahlonelwa kobomi nempahla kuye kwanda, ibe ukoyikwa kolwaphulo-mthetho kuye kwaba yinxalenye yobomi bemihla ngemihla. Ukuziphatha okuhle kuye kwaphoselwa kwesinomhlwa. Ukwanda kwabemi kuzisa iingxaki ezingaconjululwayo. Ukungcoliswa kwemekobume konakalisa ubunjani bobomi yaye kude kububek’ engozini. Ibe kukwakho nesisongelo sembubhiso yenyukliya.
21 Yaqala nini le “nimba”? IStar saseLondon sathi: “Umbhali-mbali othile kwinkulungwane elandelayo usenokugqiba kakuhle athi umhla ihlabathi elaphambana ngawo waba . . . ngowe-1914.”48 Loo nyaka, we-1914, waphawulwa kusengaphambili sisiprofeto seBhayibhile.
(3) Iziganeko Zonqulo Ezibalaseleyo
22. (a) UYesu wakunxulumanisa nantoni ukuxela kwakhe kwangaphambili ukwanda kokuchasa umthetho nokuphola kothando? (b) Iimfundiso zabefundisi ziye zafak’ isandla njani kule meko?
22 Kwakhona kwiziganeko ezinentsingiselo uYesu awathi ziya kuphawula ‘ukupheliswa kwephakade’ kukho ezi zilandelayo: “Kuya kuvela abaprofeti ababuxoki babe baninzi, balahlekise abantu abaninzi. Nangenxa yokwanda kokuchasa umthetho, luya kuphola uthando lwabaninzi.” (Mateyu 24:11, 12) UYesu wanxulumanisa ukuchas’ umthetho okwandileyo nokuphola kothando kunye nempembelelo yabaprofeti bobuxoki—abafundisi bonqulo abathi ngokuxoka bathethela uThixo. Ngaphambilana, le ncwadi inikele ubungqina bokuba abefundisi bazixhasile iimfazwe zeentlanga, bayijongele phantsi imilinganiselo yeBhayibhile yokuziphatha okuhle njengephelelwe lixesha, baza batyabeka iinxalenye zeBhayibhile njengezingenabunyaniso. Ube yintoni umphumo? Ube ‘kukuphola’ kokuthandwa kukaThixo nemithetho yakhe. Oku kube ngunobangela oyintloko ekudodobaleni kokuziphatha okuhle, nokungahlonelwa kwegunya nokungakhathalelwa komnye umntu.—2 Timoti 3:1-5.
23, 24. Bekusenzeka ntoni elunqulweni kwiminyaka yakutshanje?
23 Ngenxa yeemeko ezinjalo, izigidi ziye zazishiya iintlangano zonqulo. Bambi baphethukela eBhayibhileni baze bavisisanise ubomi babo neendlela zayo. Abanye basuka nje barhoxe ngenxa yokudana nokukruquka. Abaninzi baba ziintshaba zonqulo. Omnye umbhali wemihlathi yamaphephandaba wathi: “Ubani unokukhwankqiswa yindlela uninzi lweenkathazo zehlabathi olusekelwe ngayo kunqulo. Ibe zimbalwa iziganeko zosukuzwano lwehlabathi lobupolitika ezibangela inzondelelo yokunxanelw’ igazi ekho kwiimfazwe zonqulo.” Ngenxa yoku, wabuza oku: “Kutheni lumele lungabhangiswa nje unqulo?”49
24 Ukuphelelwa ngamandla kweenkonzo eziphambili kungqinelwe kakuhle. Ngokomzekelo, ingxelo engeItali ibonisa ukuba ngoxa abantu abangama-95 ekhulwini besithi bangamaKatolika, “Ukuza kwabo ngeCawa kuqikelelwa kungaphantsi kwama-20 ekhulwini.”50 Enye ingxelo ityhila ukuba iqela labefundisi ukutyhubela ihlabathi lehla ngama-25 000 kwiminyaka elishumi.51 EUnited States kuhlolisiso olungecawa kwaxelwa kwangaphambili ngokungakumbi “ukuhla okufikelela kuma-50 ekhulwini kubefundisi bamaKatolika baseMerika ngonyaka wama-2000.”52 IU.S.News & World Report yaphawula “ukuhla okukhulu kwiqela lamadoda angena kwizikolo zokufundela ubufundisi zamaKatolika” kwelaseUnited States, ukususela kwincopho yama-48 992 ukusa kwi-11 262 kwiminyaka engaphantsi kwama-20.53 IThe New York Times yabika ukuba zwenibanzi “inani loonongendi laye lehla ukususela kwi-181 421 laya kutsho kwi-121 370” kwiminyaka eli-15.54 Kukho imeko efanayo nakwiinkonzo ezininzi.
25. (a) Ngokwahlukileyo, yintoni eboniswa yiBhayibhile njengebiya kwenzeka kunqulo lokwenyaniso ngeli xesha? (b) Ukuhlanganiswa kwabanquli boThixo oyinyaniso kwenziwa phantsi kolwalathiso lukabani, ibe ngokwasiphi isizinzi? (c) Abantu bazo zonke iintlanga bajongene nayiphi imbambano?
25 Ngokwahlukileyo koko, iBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba “isihlwele esikhulu” esiphuma kuzo zonke iintlanga sasiya kuziswa kunqulo lukaYehova kweli xesha lesiphelo. UYesu wakuxela kwangaphambili oku kuhlanganiswa, esithi uya kwahlula abantu omnye komnye, abanye bahlulelwe ukusindiswa ‘kwimbandezelo enkulu,’ okanye “elubethweni olungunaphakade.” (ISityhilelo 7:9, 10, 14; Isaya 2:2-4; Mateyu 25:31-33, 46) Yintoni eyahlula abantu ukuze bafumane usindiso? IBhayibhile iphendula ngokuthi: “Ihlabathi ke liyadlula, nenkanuko yalo; ke yena owenza ukuthanda kukaThixo uhleli ngonaphakade.” (1 Yohane 2:17) Ibe abantu bebeya kukwazi njani oko ukuthanda kukaThixo kukuko? Ngokusabela kumsebenzi wemfundo yazwenibanzi uYesu awawuxela kwangaphambili xa wathi: “Ezi ndaba zilungileyo zobukumkani ziya kuvakaliswa kulo elimiweyo liphela, zibe bubungqina kuzo zonke iintlanga; kwandule ke ukufika ukuphela.” (Mateyu 24:14) Oku kushumayela kwenza abantu bazo zonke iintlanga bajongane nale mbambano: Ngaba bamela ulawulo lukaThixo? Okanye, ngaba bavisisana nesibongozo sikaSathana e-Eden, ngaba bafuna ulawulo lwabantu oluzimele geqe? UYehova unika abantu ithuba lokuzikhethela.
26, 27. (a) Lo msebenzi wokunikelwa kobungqina sowenziwe ngokomkhamo ongakanani? (b) Kutheni indlela ubani asabela ngayo kwisigidimi soBukumkani ingumcimbi onzulu nje?
26 Ubungqina bazwenibanzi boBukumkani bunikelwa ngomkhosi owandayo. Emazweni angaphezu kwama-200, izigidi zamaNgqina kaYehova zityelela abantu emakhayeni abo zize zizinikele ukuba zifundisise nabo iBhayibhile, ngesisa. Iimpapasho abazisebenzisayo ngokukakhulu ziimpapasho zeBhayibhile ezizezona zisasazwa ngokubanzi emhlabeni. Enyanisweni, ziphakathi kwezona mpapasho zisasazwa ngokubanzi kulo naluphi na uhlobo. Ibe zifumaneka ngeelwimi ezinokuba li-190.
27 Lo msebenzi wokwahlula ubusenziwa kangangeminyaka emininzi. Ngoku ukufuphi ekuqoshelisweni kwawo. Ngokutsho kweLizwi likaThixo, abo bachase ulawulo loBukumkani bakhe, kwanabo bathi ngokungakhathaliyo baliyeke ithuba lokufunda ngaye, baya kunqunyulwa. (Mateyu 25:34, 41, 46; 2 Tesalonika 1:6-9) Kwabanye abazifanisa njengabaxhasi boBukumkani bukaThixo, oku kuya kuphawula ixesha lenkululo enkulu. Kodwa uya kufika nini lo mgwebo?
(4) ‘Asiyi Kudlula Esi Sizukulwana’
28. UYesu wathi yayiya kufika msinya kangakanani intshabalalo yehlabathi eyaxelwa kwangaphambili?
28 Ngokuphathelele “umhla nelo lixa,” uYesu wathi, “akukho bani uwaziyo . . . azazi nezithunywa zamazulu, [akazi noNyana, NW] nguBawo yedwa.” Kodwa uYesu wanikela imbonakaliso eluncedo yexesha xa wathi: “Asisayi kudlula esi sizukulwana, zingadanga zonke ezo zinto zibekho.” (Mateyu 24:34, 36) Ngaloo ndlela zonke iimbalasane ezahlukahlukeneyo ‘zomqondiso’ ‘kwanembandezelo enkulu,’ zimele zenzeke ngethuba lokuphila kwesizukulwana esinye—isizukulwana sowe-1914. Oku kuthetha ukuba bambi abantu abazibonayo iziganeko zowe-1914, xa kwaqalisa ‘ukupheliswa kwephakade,’ babeya kuba besaphila ukuze babone ukuphela kwako xa kuqhambuka “imbandezelo enkulu.” Abo bazikhumbulayo iziganeko zowe-1914 bayaluphala ngoku. Uninzi lwabo selufile. Kodwa uYesu wasiqinisekisa ngokuthi “asisayi kudlula esi sizukulwana” ngaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kwale nkqubo yezinto ingendawo.—Mateyu 24:21.
29. Ngokuvumela iziganeko ukususela ngowe-1914 zifikelele kwinqanaba ezikulo, uThixo ukwenze njani kwalula ngabantu ukwenza isigqibo esifanelekileyo?
29 Hayi indlela ebenomonde ngayo uThixo ekulungiseleleni eli thuba loluliweyo lenguquko! (2 Petros 3:9) Okokuqala embalini, iingxaki ngokulandelelana kwazo zithe zafikelela kwimilinganiselo emikhulu—imfazwe, ungcoliso, ukwanda kwabemi bomhlaba nezingaphezulu. Nayiphi na kuzo ibingazisa umonakalo ngokupheleleyo. Ngokuvumela ubungqina obunjalo bufumbe, uThixo wenze kwaba lula ngakumbi ngabantu ukubona ukuba umntu akanazo izicombululo. Kwangaxeshanye, ukushunyayelwa ‘kweendaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani’ kuncede abantu abantliziyo zinyanisekileyo baqonda ukuba uBukumkani bukaThixo bukuphela kwethemba lokufumaneka koxolo nonqabiseko lokwenyaniso. Ngaloo ndlela uThixo ubanika ithuba lokuzisondeza kwicala lakhe lembambano enkulu.
(5) Umqondiso Wokugqibela
30. Nguwuphi umqondiso wokugqibela wokusondela kwentshabalalo yehlabathi iBhayibhile ewubonisayo?
30 Kusekho isiganeko esinye esingakumbi esiza kuza njengomqondiso ongaphazamiyo wokuba intshabalalo yehlabathi isondele. Ethetha ngesi siganeko umpostile uPawulos wabhala oku: “Imini yeNkosi, njengesela ebusuku, yenjenjalo ukuza kwayo. Kuba xenikweni baya kuthi, Luxolo nokunqaba, oko baya kufikelwa yintshabalaliso ngebhaqo, . . . baye bengayi kukha basinde.”—1 Tesalonika 5:2, 3; Luka 21:34, 35.
31, 32. (a) Ngaba “uxolo nokunqaba” oluvakaliswa ngabalawuli bobupolitika luya kuba lolokwenyani? (b) Kungani bekungaba yingozi ukulahlekiswa lulo?
31 Iinkokeli zehlabathi ziyazi ukuba imfazwe yenyukliya ithetha phantse intshabalalo. Kwakhona, iingxaki ezibalulekileyo ezinjengongcoliso, ukwanda kwabemi bomhlaba neengxaki zekhaya zifuna ingqalelo nemali. Ngoko zifuna ukufumana ukuphumla kubudlelane bezizwe ngezizwe bokutsala nzima. Ubungqina boku kukuvakalisa kweZizwe Ezimanyeneyo owe-1986 ‘njengonyaka woxolo nonqabiseko lwezizwe ngezizwe.’ Ngokungathandabuzekiyo, eli linyathelo elisa ekuzalisekeni kwamazwi kaPawulos acatshulwe ngasentla. Kakade ke, uthethathethwano nezivumelwano zobupolitika azenzi naziphi na iinguqulelo zokwenene ebantwini ukubabangela bathandane. Aziluphelisi ulwaphulo-mthetho, ibe aziziphelisi izifo nokufa. Kanti isiprofeto sibonisa ukuba liya kufika ixesha laxa iintlanga ziya kuvakalisa ukuba ziwufezile umlinganiselo ‘woxolo nonqabiseko.’ Xa oko kusenzeka, ‘intshabalalo yebhaqo’ iya kufika “ngequbuliso” (NW) kwabo balahlekisi boluntu, kunye nabo bonke abakholosa ngabo.
32 Kodwa bakho abaya kusinda. Ngaba uya kuba ngomnye wabo?
[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 78, 79]
“Uya Kuba Yini Na Umqondiso”?
“Uhlanga Luya Kuvukelana Nohlanga”—
“IMfazwe Yehlabathi I yangenisa inkulungwane Yemfazwe Epheleleyo—ngokwengqiqo ephambili nepheleleyo yeli gama—imfazwe yomhlaba wonke. . . . Akuzange ngaphambi kowe-1914-1918 kubekho imfazwe . . . eyagubungela indawo engako ukuba nkulu yomhlaba. . . . Akuzange ukubulala kube yinto ehlanganisa konke kuze kungakhethi.”—World War I, nguH. Baldwin.
IMfazwe Yehlabathi I yabulala amajoni nabemi nje abali-14 lezigidi; iMfazwe Yehlabathi II yabulala abangama-55 ezigidi. Ukususela kwiMfazwe Yehlabathi II ubhukuqo-mbuso, iimvukelo neemfazwe ezingamakhulukhulu zibulele abantu abanokuba ngama-35 ezigidi.
Ngaloo ndlela, ukususela ngowe-1914 abantu abangaphezu kwe-100 lezigidi baye babulawa ezimfazweni!
“Kuya Kubakho Iindlala”—
Ukunqaba kokutya kwabhuqa amazwe amaninzi emva kweMfazwe Yehlabathi I neMfazwe Yehlabathi II.
Phezu kwayo nje iminyaka yokuhambela phambili kwenzululwazi, phantse ikota yehlabathi iyalamba. Abantwana abaqikelelwa beli-12 lezigidi bafa nyaka ngamnye ngaphambi komhla wabo wokuzalwa wokuqala ngenxa yokungondleki. Nyaka ngamnye izigidi zabanye nazo ziyafa ngenxa yesizathu esifanayo.
“Neendyikitya Zokufa”—
Akukho ndyikitya yokufa ebhaliweyo yakha yalingana noMbathalala we-1918-1919. Ubuncinane wahlasela abantu abangama-500 ezigidi; abangaphezu kwama-20 ezigidi bafa.
Uphengululo lwezamayeza alukwazanga ukuthintela izinto ezinjengesifo sentliziyo ukuba zingafikeleli umlinganiselo wobhubhani. Umhlaza sisibetho esikhulayo. Inani lezifo ezidluliselwa ngeentlobano zesini landile.
“Izinyikimo Zomhlaba” Kwiindawo Ngeendawo—
Ngokuxhomekeke kwimithombo, uqikelelo lwabangxwelerhekileyo luyahlukahlukana. Kodwa ukunika imizekelo embalwa: Abangama-30 000 ukuya kwabangama-32 000 bafa kwinyikima yaseItali ngowe-1915; i-100 000 ukusa kuma-200 000 lafa eTshayina ngowe-1920; ama-95 000 ukusa kwi-150 000 lafa eJapan ngowe-1923; abangama-25 000 kuse kuma-60 000 bafa eIndiya ngowe-1935; abali-12 000 ukusa kuma-20 000 bafa eIran ngowe-1968; ama-54 000 ukusa kuma-70 000 afa ePeru ngowe-1970; ama-20 000 ukusa kuma-23 000 afa eGuatemala ngowe-1976; abali-100 000 ukusa kuma-800 000 bafa eTshayina ngowe-1976. Ukususela ngowe-1914 abanye abangamawaka amaninzi bafe kumakhulukhulu eenyikima zomhlaba ezinkulu emhlabeni wonke.
Amanani aphuma kwimithombo eyahlukahlukeneyo abonisa ukuba inani elisisilinganiselo leenyikima zomhlaba eziqatha nyaka ngamnye ukususela ngowe-1914 lalilikhulu gqitha kunenani eliqhelekileyo kwiminyaka engama-2 000 ngaphambili.
‘Ukwanda Kokuchasa Umthetho’—
Uyazazi izibakala. Ulwaphulo-mthetho olwandayo luchaphazela onke amazwe emhlabeni. Ubomi bakho buyachatshazelwa. Kwindawo ohlala kuyo, bekusenzeka ntoni ezikolweni? Kummandla okuwo ngaba iziyobisi zisetyenziswa ngokungekho mthethweni? Kuthekani ngokunganyaniseki kushishino? Uziva ukhuseleke kanganani ezitratweni ngokuhlwa?
Akuchaswanga nje umthetho wabantu, kodwa kuchaswe ngokude kwangakumbi umthetho kaThixo. (Bona eyesi-2 kuTimoti 3:1-5, 13.)
UBukumkani BukaThixo Bushunyayelwa Zwenibanzi—
Lo msebenzi wenziwa ngokuthe rhoqo zizigidi zamaNgqina kaYehova kumazwe angaphezu kwama-200.
Ebudeni beminyaka edlulileyo elishumi, amangqina kaYehova aye anikela iiyure ezimalunga namawaka amane ezigidi ekushumayeleni esi sigidimi ekuhleni. Kwakwelo xesha apapasha, ngeelwimi ezinokubalelwa kwi-190, uncwadi olungaphezu kwamawaka ezigidi ezi-5 nolwalatha kuBukumkani bukaThixo njengobukuphela kwethemba lomntu.
Ukuvakaliswa ‘Koxolo Nonqabiseko’—
Iinkokeli ziyayiqonda imfuneko yoxolo ukuze kuphetshwe intlekele yenyukliya nokuze kuconjululwe ezinye iingxaki ezandayo. Inyathelo elithatyathiweyo koku kukuvakalisa kweZizwe Ezimanyeneyo owe-1986 ingunyaka “woxolo, unqabiseko nentsebenziswano kwizizwe ngezizwe.”—Indibano Jikelele, Umbandela 32, intlanganiso 39.
Ngaba ‘zingumqondiso’ wantoni ezi zinto xa zizonke? Zingumqondiso wokuba siphila ‘ekuphelisweni kwephakade.’ Zingumqondiso wokuba uKristu usetroneni yakhe yasezulwini ibe esahlula ebantwini bazo zonke intlanga abo bakufuna ngokwenyaniso ukwenza ukuthanda kukaThixo. Zingumqondiso wokuba ‘imbandezelo enkulu’ isondele kakhulu. Ngeenkcukacha ezingakumbi, funda uMateyu isahluko 24 nesama-25, uMarko 13, noLuka 21.