Izinsuku Zokugcina—Nini?

“EMINYAKENI engaphezudlwana nje kwezigidi eziyinkulungwane, silindele ukuba uMhlaba ube ugwadule oluyibhuqu elome nke. Kunzima ukucabanga ukuthi izinto eziphilayo ezinamangqamuzana amaningi ziyosinda kanjani,” kusho umagazini wamuva nje i-Sky & Telescope. Ngani? “Ukushisa okukhulu kweLanga kuyobilisa ulwandle futhi kubangele ukushisa okukhulu kwamazwekazi,” kusho umagazini i-Astronomy, unezela: “Lesi simo esiyinhlekelele asilona nje iqiniso elingathandeki—siyisiphelo esingenakusigwema.”

Nokho, iBhayibheli lithi: “[UNkulunkulu] usekelé umhlaba phezu kwezindawo zawo ezimisiweyo; ngeke untengantengiswe kuze kube nini nanini, noma kuze kube phakade.” (IHubo 104:5) Ngokuqinisekile, uMdali womhlaba angakwazi futhi ukuwugcina ukhona. Empeleni, ‘wawubumba ukuba kuhlalwe kuwo.’ (Isaya 45:18) Kodwa wayengawubumbelanga ukuba kuhlale kuwo uhlanga lwesintu olubi, olufayo. UNkulunkulu wamisa isikhathi sokubuyisela ububusi bakhe ngoMbuso okukhulunywa ngawo kuDaniyeli 2:44.

UJesu washumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Wakhuluma ngesikhathi sokwahlulelwa kwezizwe nabantu. Waxwayisa ngosizi olwaluyokuba lukhulu kunalo lonke olwake lwaba khona. Futhi wanikeza isibonakaliso esiyinhlanganisela esasiyobonisa ukuthi ukuphela kwezwe esilaziyo kwakuseduze.—Mathewu 9:35; Marku 13:19; Luka 21:7-11; Johane 12:31.

Ukuthi umuntu obaluleke njengoJesu wayengalandisa ngalezo zinto kuye kwashukumisa izingqondo zabaningi. Lezo zenzakalo zaziyofika nini? Ngokutadisha isiprofetho seBhayibheli nohlelo lwalo lwezikhathi, abanye baye bazimisela ukuthola ukuthi ukuphela kuyofika nini ngempela. Umuntu owaphenya ngale ndaba isazi sezibalo sekhulu le-17 uSir Isaac Newton, esathola umthetho wendawo yonke wamandla adonsela phansi futhi esingumsunguli we-calculus.

UJesu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Akukhona okwenu ukuthola ulwazi ngezikhathi noma izinkathi uBaba azishiyele kuye ngokwakhe.” (IzEnzo 1:7) Futhi lapho enikeza ‘isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto,’ uJesu wathi: “Ngokuphathelene nalolo suku nalelo hora akekho owaziyo, nazingelosi zasemazulwini naNdodana, kodwa nguBaba kuphela.” (Mathewu 24:3, 36) Kwathi ngemva kokufanisa ukubhujiswa kwezwe elibi lesintu osukwini lukaNowa nembubhiso eyayizoba khona phakathi ‘nokuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu,’ uJesu wathi: “Ngakho-ke, hlalani nilindile ngoba anazi ukuthi iNkosi yenu iza ngaluphi usuku.”—Mathewu 24:39, 42.

Ngakho, nakuba singakasembulelwa isikhathi esiqondile sokuphela kwalesi “simiso sezinto,” “isibonakaliso” uJesu asinikeza sasizosisiza ukuba sibone uma sesisenkathini eyaziwa ngokuthi “izinsuku zokugcina.” (2 Thimothewu 3:1) Kwakuyoba isikhathi ‘sokuhlala siphapheme’ ukuze ‘siphumelele ekuphunyukeni kuzo zonke lezi zinto ezimiselwe ukwenzeka.’—Luka 21:36.

Ngaphambi kokuba anikeze uphawu ngokwalo, uJesu waxwayisa: “Qaphelani ukuba ningadukiswa; ngoba baningi abayokuza ngegama lami, bethi, ‘Nginguye,’ bethi futhi, ‘Isikhathi esifanele sesisondele.’ Ningabalandeli. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lapho nizwa ngezimpi neziyaluyalu, ningesabi. Ngoba lezi zinto kumelwe zenzeke kuqala, kodwa ukuphela kuyobe kungakazukufika masinyane.”—Luka 21:8, 9.

Siyini Isibonakaliso?

Esitshela ukuthi izinsuku zokugcina zaziyophawuleka ngani, uJesu waqhubeka wathi: “Isizwe siyovukela isizwe, nombuso uvukele umbuso; futhi kuyoba khona ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba, futhi ezindaweni ngezindawo kube khona izifo eziwumshayabhuqe nokusweleka kokudla; kuyoba khona imibono eyesabekayo, nasezulwini kube khona izibonakaliso ezinkulu.” (Luka 21:10, 11) Wabuye wathi: “Lezi zindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.” (Mathewu 24:14) Izenzakalo uJesu akhuluma ngazo—izimpi, ukuzamazama komhlaba, izifo eziwumshayabhuqe, ukusweleka kokudla—zazingeyona into entsha. Bezilokhu zenzeka kusukela ekuqaleni komlando womuntu. Umahluko bekuyoba ukuthi zonke zaziyokwenzeka ngenkathi eyodwa.

Zibuze, ‘Kunini lapho yonke imininingwane ephawulwe emaVangelini yenzeka khona ngenkathi eyodwa?’ Kusukela ngonyaka ka-1914, isintu siye sabona izimpi zezwe ezibhubhisayo; ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba okunemiphumela eyinhlekelele, njengama-tsunami; ukusakazeka kwezifo ezibulalayo ezinjengomalaleveva, umkhuhlane nengculaza; izigidi zabantu zibulawa yindlala; ukwesaba embulungeni yonke ngenxa yosongo lobuphekula nezikhali eziwukhukhulela-ngoqo; nokushumayela koFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini. Lezi zenzakalo ziye zenzeka njengoba nje uJesu ayebikezele.

Khumbula nalokho umphostoli uPawulu akubhala: “Yazi lokhu, ukuthi ezinsukwini zokugcina kuyofika izikhathi ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo. Ngoba abantu bayokuba abazithandayo, abathanda imali, abazazisayo, abazidlayo, abahlambalazi, abangalaleli abazali, abangabongiyo, abangathembeki, abangenalo uthando, abangafuni sivumelwano, abanyundeli, abangenakho ukuzithiba, abanolaka, abangenalo uthando lokuhle, abakhapheli, abanenkani, abakhukhumele, abathandi benjabulo kunokuba abathandi bakaNkulunkulu, abanesimo sokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kodwa bewaphika amandla ako.” (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Yebo, “izikhathi ezibucayi” eziphawuleka ngokungabi namthetho okukhulu, ukungahambisani nezimiso zikaNkulunkulu, unya nolaka olubangelwa ukuzazisa zaziyosakazeka emhlabeni wonke.a

Kodwa kungenzeka yini ukuthi “izinsuku zokugcina” ezandulela ukuphela ziyofika esikhathini esithile esizayo? Ingabe bukhona obunye ubufakazi obubonisa ukuthi zaziyoqala nini?

Sasiyoqala Nini “Isikhathi Sokuphela”?

Ngemva kokuthola amazwibela ezenzakalo ezaziyokwenzeka esikhathini eside esizayo, umprofethi uDaniyeli watshelwa: “Ngaleso sikhathi [“isikhathi sokuphela” okukhulunywa ngaso kuDaniyeli 11:40] uMikayeli [uJesu Kristu] uyokuma, isikhulu esikhulu esimi ngenxa yabantwana babantu bakini.” (Daniyeli 12:1) Yini uMikayeli ayezoyenza?

Incwadi yesAmbulo ikhuluma ngesikhathi uMikayeli ayezoba matasa ngaso njengeNkosi. Ithi: “Kwagqashuka impi ezulwini: UMikayeli nezingelosi zakhe balwa nodrako, nodrako nezingelosi zakhe balwa kodwa akazange anqobe, nendawo yabo ayibange isatholakala ezulwini. Ngakho waphonswa phansi udrako omkhulu, inyoka yokuqala, lowo obizwa ngokuthi uDeveli noSathane, odukisa umhlaba wonke owakhiwe; waphonswa phansi emhlabeni, nezingelosi zakhe zaphonswa phansi kanye naye. Ngenxa yalokhu, thokozani nina mazulu nani enihlala kuwo! Mayé ngomhlaba nangolwandle, ngoba uDeveli wehlele kini, ethukuthele kakhulu, azi ukuthi unesikhathi esifushane.”—IsAmbulo 12:7-9, 12.

Uhlelo lwezikhathi zeBhayibheli lubonisa ukuthi le mpi yokukhipha uSathane namademoni akhe ezulwini yayiyobangela umayé omkhulu emhlabeni ngenxa yentukuthelo kaDeveli, azi ukuthi isikhathi esisele sokubusa umhlaba sifushane. Intukuthelo yakhe yayizokhula phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina kuze kube yilapho esehlulwe ngokuphelele empini ye-Armagedoni.—IsAmbulo 16:14, 16; 19:11, 15; 20:1-3.

Ngemva kokuchaza imiphumela yaleyo mpi yasezulwini, umphostoli uJohane wathi: “Ngezwa izwi elikhulu ezulwini lithi: ‘Manje isikhona insindiso, namandla, nombuso kaNkulunkulu wethu negunya likaKristu wakhe, ngoba ummangaleli wabafowethu uphonswe phansi, lowo obamangalela imini nobusuku phambi kukaNkulunkulu wethu!’” (IsAmbulo 12:10) Usiphawulile yini isimemezelo sokumiswa koMbuso ngaphansi kukaKristu? Yebo, lowo Mbuso wasezulwini wamiswa ngo-1914.b Nokho, njengoba iHubo 110:2 libonisa, uJesu wayezobusa “phakathi kwezitha [zakhe]” kuze kufike isikhathi sokuba uMbuso ubuse phezu komhlaba njengoba bewenza ezulwini.—Mathewu 6:10.

Ngokuthakazelisayo, ingelosi eyatshela umprofethi uDaniyeli ngezenzakalo ezazizofika yabuye yathi: “Wena Daniyeli, yenza la mazwi abe yimfihlo futhi uyivale incwadi, kuze kube isikhathi sokuphela. Abaningi bayozulazula, futhi ulwazi lweqiniso luyoba luningi.” (Daniyeli 12:4) Lokhu kunikeza ubufakazi obengeziwe bokuthi manje “sisesikhathini sokuphela.” Ukwazi incazelo yalezi ziprofetho sekucacisiwe kakade futhi manje kumenyezelwa emhlabeni wonke.c

Ziyophela Nini “Izinsuku Zokugcina”?

IBhayibheli alisho ngokuqondile ukuthi izinsuku zokugcina ziyoba zinde kangakanani. Kodwa ezinsukwini zokugcina, isimo siyoba sibi kakhulu emhlabeni njengoba isikhathi sikaSathane sincipha. Umphostoli uPawulu waxwayisa ngokuthi “ababi nabakhohlisi bayoqhubeka besuka kokubi baye kokubi kakhulu, bedukisa futhi bedukiswa.” (2 Thimothewu 3:13) Lapho ekhuluma ngezinto ezazizokwenzeka, uJesu wathi: “Lezo zinsuku ziyoba izinsuku zosizi olungakaze lube khona kusukela ekuqaleni kwendalo eyadalwa uNkulunkulu kuze kube yileso sikhathi, futhi olungeke luphinde lube khona. Eqinisweni, ukube uJehova akazifinyezanga lezo zinsuku, akukho nyama ebiyosinda. Kodwa ngenxa yabakhethiweyo abakhethwe nguye, uzifinyezile lezo zinsuku.”—Marku 13:19, 20.

Ezinye zezenzakalo ezisazofika “usizi olukhulu,” kuhlanganise nempi ye-Armagedoni, kanye nokuboshwa kukaSathane namademoni akhe ukuze bangabi nethonya emhlabeni. (Mathewu 24:21) “UNkulunkulu ongenakuqamba amanga,” usiqinisekisile ukuthi lezi zinto ziyokwenzeka. (Thithu 1:2) UNkulunkulu nguye oyoletha i-Armagedoni futhi avalele uSathane kwalasha.

Umphostoli uPawulu waphefumulelwa ukuba asitshele lokho okwakuzokwandulela imbubhiso eyolethwa uNkulunkulu. Ekhuluma “ngezikhathi nezinkathi,” wabhala: “Usuku lukaJehova luza ngokufana ncamashí nesela ebusuku. Noma nini lapho bethi: ‘Ukuthula nokulondeka!’ khona-ke imbubhiso engazelelwe iyobafikela ngaso leso sikhathi njengomhelo wokucindezeleka ufikela owesifazane okhulelweyo; futhi abasoze baphunyuka nangayiphi indlela.” (1 Thesalonika 5:1-3) Akushiwo ukuthi yini ebangela leso simemezelo samanga ‘sokuthula nokulondeka,’ futhi lokho kuyocaca ngokuhamba kwesikhathi; kodwa ngeke kuvimbe ukufika kosuku lukaJehova lokwahlulela.d

Uma siqiniseka ngeqiniso lalezi ziprofetho, ukwazi amaqiniso kufanele kusishukumisele esenzweni. Kanjani? UPetru uyaphendula: “Njengoba zonke lezi zinto ziyoncibilika kanjalo, yeka ukuthi luhlobo luni lwabantu okufanele nibe yilo ezenzweni zokuziphatha ezingcwele nasezenzweni zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, nilindele futhi nikukhumbula njalo ukufika kosuku lukaJehova!” (2 Petru 3:11, 12) Kodwa, ungase uzibuze, ‘Kungizuzisa ngani lokhu?’ Isihloko esilandelayo sizophendula lowo mbuzo.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 5]

UJesu wathi uNkulunkulu kuphela owazi ‘lolo suku nalelo hora’

[Isithombe ekhasini 4]

USir Isaac Newton

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©A. H. C./age fotostock

[Izithombe ekhasini 7]

Isibonakaliso uJesu asinikeza siye safezeka kusukela ngo-1914

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© Heidi Bradner/Panos Pictures

© Paul Smith/Panos Pictures