Ukuvuna “Esikhathini Sokugcina”

“Ukuvuna kungukuphela kwezwe.”—Math. 13:39.

1. Kungani “ukuvuna’’ okwabikezelwa uJesu kuyisizathu esikabili senjabulo?

ISIVUNO esihle njalo siyisizathu senjabulo nokubonga. Siyisikhathi sokuthola umvuzo womsebenzi wesikhathi eside, nonzima. Ukuvuna okwabikezelwa emfanekisweni kaKristu wa“mabele” no“khula” kwakunikeza isizathu esikabili ngaso sonke isintu ukuba sijabule. Ngani? Hayi nje kuphela ngenxa yokuthi sasiyosho ukubuthelwa ndawonye kwenani elidingekayo la“bantwana bombuso,” noma “abangcwele,” ababezohlanganiswa noKristu ekubuseni kwakhe “okuphakade okungayikudlula,” ngaleyondlela kube nohulumeni omuhle emhlabeni, kodwa futhi nangenxa yokuthi lokhu“kuvuna” ngokwakho kwakuyoba ubufakazi bokuthi siphila ‘esiphelweni sesimiso sezinto’ nalapho sekuzoqala uhlelo olusha lokulunga.—Dan. 7:14, 27; Math. 13:38, 39; 2 Pet. 3:13.

ELITHI “SYNTEʹLEIA” NELITHI “TELOS”

2. Kungani igama lesiGreki usynteʹleia lihunyushwa kangcono ngokuthi “isiphelo” kunokuthi “ukuphela,” ngakho usynteʹleia uhambisana nasiphi isikhathi esiphawulwe kuDaniyeli?

² UJesu akazange asho ukuthi “ukuvuna” kusho “ukuphela kwezwe,” njengoba ezinye izinguqulo zeBhayibheli kuhlanganise nelesiZulu zisenza sikholwe kanjalo. (Authorized Version; American Standard Version; The Jerusalem Bible) Izinguqulo ezinjalo azenzi mehluko phakathi kwamagama esiGreki usynteʹleia notelos. Lapho ichaza usynteʹleia, iExpository Dictionary of New Testament Words kaW. E. Vine iyaphawula: “Leligama alisho ukukhawuka, kodwa ukuqhubeka kwezenzakalo ziya emvuthwandaba omisiwe.” Ngakho uma uJesu ethi “ukuvuna kusho isiphelo [synteʹleia] sesimiso sezinto,” wayekhuluma ngesikhathi somsebenzi esasiyoba nokuqala kanye nokuphela kwaso. NgokukaMathewu 13:30, uJesu wayebhekisela ‘esikhathini sokuvuna,’ ngokusobala okusho inkathi yesikhathi, inkathi umprofethi uDaniyeli akhuluma ngayo njenge“sikhathi sokugcina.” (Dan. 12:4) Ngokuthakazelisayo, lapho abahumushi beSeptuagint Version yesiGreki behumusha lelivesi kuDaniyeli, basebenzisa igama elithi synteʹleia.

3. “Isikhathi sokuvuna” sihlangene nani, futhi igama lesiGreki elithi telos lisho ukuthini futhi libhekiselaphi kuMathewu 24:14?

³ Igama elifanayo lisetshenzisiwe kuMathewu 24:3, lapho abafundi babuza uJesu: “Sitshele, ziyokwenzeka nini lezizinto, futhi siyokuba yini isibonakaliso sokuba-khona kwakho nesesiphelo [synteʹleia] sesimiso sezinto?” Ngakho “isikhathi sokuvuna” sihlangene nokuba-khona kukaKristu okungabonakali njengoMvuni. Ekuphenduleni umbuzo wabafundi bakhe, uJesu wabala izimpi zezizwe, ukuntuleka kokudla, izifo, ukuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu, ukungabi namthetho nesimo esivamile nje sokwesaba. (Qhathanisa ukulandisa okufanayo kuMathewu 24, Marku 13, noLuka 21.) Khona-ke, ebonisa ukuthi “isikhathi sokuvuna” sasizofika ekupheleni, wanezela: “Lezizindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe ngenjongo yobufakazi kuzo zonke izizwe; khona-ke ukuphela [telos] kuzofika.” (Math. 24:14, NW) Igama elithi telos lisho “ukuphela,” “ngengqondo yokukhawuka, ukunqamuka . . . ingxenye yokugcina, ukuvala, isiphetho ikakhulukazi sento yokugcina, ingxenye yokugcina yomdlalo.”a

4. Kunini lapho “isiphelo,” noma “isikhathi sokugcina,” saqala khona, ngakho yini engashiwo ngo“kuvuna”?

⁴ Amaqiniso omlando wamuva kusukela ngo-1914, ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho seBhayibheli, abonisa ukuthi isimiso samanje sezinto sesiphakathi nesaso “isikhathi sokugcina,” noma “isiphelo” (synteʹleia). Uma sicaphuna futhi amazwi kaW. E. Vine, sibona “ukuqhubekela kwezenzakalo emvuthwandaba omisiwe” noma ukuphela (telos). Ngakho-ke, “ukuvuna” komfanekiso kaJesu kumelwe ukuba kuyaqhubeka; eqinisweni, kumelwe ukuba sekusondela ekukhawukeni kwakho. Ingabe izenzakalo ezabikezelwa uJesu kuwo wonke umfanekiso ziye zabonakala kusukela ngo-1914?

“SEKOMILE OKUVUNWAYO KOMHLABA”

5. Ngesikhathi sokuvuna, “iNdodana yomuntu” iyoyala izingelosi zayo ukuba zenzeni?

⁵ Eqhubeka nencazelo yakhe yo“mfanekiso wokhula ensimini,” uJesu waphawula: “Ukuvuna [kuyisiphelo sesimiso sezinto]; nabavuni yizingelosi. Ngakho-ke njengokuba ukhula luyabuthwa, lushiswe emlilweni, kuyakuba-njalo [esiphelweni sesimiso sezinto]. INdodana yomuntu iyakuthuma izingelosi zayo, zibuthe, zikhiphe embusweni wayo konke okukhubekisayo nabenza okubi, zibaphonse eziko lomlilo; lapho kuyakuba-khona ukukhala nokugedla amazinyo.”—Math. 13:39-42, qhathanisa neNW.

6. “Amabele” ayekwa ukuba akhule phakathi kwani?

⁶ “Abavuni,” noma izingelosi, ziyothunyelwa “iNdodana yomuntu” “esiphelweni sesimiso sezinto,” ukuze zisiphule phakathi kwa“bantwana bombuso” “konke okukhubekisayo nabenza okubi.” Njengoba isihloko esandulelayo sibonisile, ukutshala kukaDeveli “ukhula ebusuku” kuye kwaphumela ekuhlubukeni okuhleliwe, ubuKristu bamanga ngaphansi kokuphatha kwabaholi benkolo abacindezelayo abaye bakha ohlangene “umuntu ongenamthetho,” owabikezelwa umphostoli uPawulu. (2 Thes. 2:3-12) “Amabele” eqiniso ayekwa ukuba akhule phakathi ko“khula” olunjalo kuze kube “yisikhathi sokuphela.” Khona-ke “iNdodana yomuntu” iyoyala “abavuni” bayo ukuba bahlukanise “abantwana bombuso” ku“bantwama bomubi.”

7. Isiphi isiprofetho esifanayo esisisiza ukuba sithole isikhathi sokuvuna?

⁷ Waqala nini lomsebenzi wokuhlukanisa? Isiprofetho esithakazelisayo esihambisana nalesi sisishiya singenakungabaza ngokuthi kwakuzoba nini. Sifundeka kanje: “Ngase ngibona; bheka, nanto ifu elimhlophe, naphezu kwefu kuhlezi ofana nendodana yomuntu enomqhele wegolide ekhanda lakhe nasesandleni sakhe enesikela elibukhali. Enye ingelosi yayisiphuma ethempelini, imemeza ngezwi elikhulu, ithi kohlezi phezu kwefu: Faka isikela lakho, uvune, ngokuba kufikile isikhathi sokuvuna, ngokuba sekomile okuvunwayo komhlaba. Ohlezi phezu kwefu wayeseliphonsa isikela emhlabeni; wawusuvunwa umhlaba.”—IsAm. 14:14-16.

8. “INdodana yomuntu” ifanekiswe kanjani kusAmbulo 14:14, ngakho ukuvuna kumelwe ukuba kwaqala emva kwasiphi isenzakalo?

⁸ Lapha sibona “iNdodana yomuntu,” uJesu Kristu, hayi njengomhlwanyeli otshala “imbewu enhle ensimini yakhe” kodwa njengenkosi enomqhele engenela umsebenzi wokuvuna “umhlaba.” Ukuhlala kwakhe phezu kwefu kufanekisela ubukhona bakhe bokungabonakali. (IzE. 1:9-11; IsAm. 1:7) Ngakho-ke, “ukuvuna,” kumelwe kwenzeke ngesikhathi sobukhona bukaKristu, ngemva kokuthweswa umqhele futhi wamukela “ukubusa, nobukhosi, nombuso” kuJehova, “omdala wezinsuku.” (Dan. 7:13, 14) Ngakho ukuvuna kwaqala esikhathini esithile ngemva kuka-1914, unyaka owaphawula ukuqala kwe“sikhathi sokugcina,” noma “isiphelo sesimiso sezinto.”

9. Umsebenzi wokwehlukanisa waqala nini?

⁹ Kunini, ngemva kuka-1914, lapho iNdodana yomuntu ‘yathuma [khona] izingelosi zayo’ ukuba zihlukanise “abantwana bombuso” ku“bantwana bomubi,” ‘amabele mbumbulu,’ okungukuthi, “abenza okubi” nabahlanganisa “umuntu ongenamthetho,” abaholi benkolo bobuKristu-mbumbulu? Impendulo kumelwe ivumelane namaqiniso, futhi lawa abonisa ukuthi kwakungo-1919 lapho “abantwana bombuso” abazelwe ngomoya nabagcotshiwe, abafanekiselwa “amabele,” lapho baqala khona ukukhululeka ‘okhuleni,’ noma amaKristu amanga, ayekade exhaphaza isintu kwezenkolo. “Okuvunwayo komhlaba” kwase komile futhi isikhathi sase sifikile nge“Ndodana yomuntu” ukuba iphonse isikela layo ivune. Lomfanekiso wembula ukuthi lokhu yakwenza nga“bavuni” bayo, izingelosi.

UKHULA LUBUTHELWA UKUSHISWA

10. Kungani kwakunzima ukuhlukanisa “amabele” eqiniso phakathi namakhulu eminyaka, kodwa kusukela nini lapho kuye kwenzeka khona ukwehlukanisa ngokusobala “amabele” no“khula”?

¹⁰ Emfanekisweni wakhe “wokhula ensimini,” uJesu wathi: “Ngesikhathi sokuvuna ngiyakuthi kwabavunayo: Buthani kuqala ukhula, nilubophe izinyanda ukuba lushiswe.” (Math. 13:30) Etnakhulwini amaningi eminyaka “amabele,” noma “abantwana bombuso” beqiniso, bebengabonakali kahle, besithwe “ukhula” olukhula ngamandla, noma amaKristu ahlubukayo, athi anamathemba asezulwini njengezindlalifa eMbusweni. Kuphela kungemva kuka-1919, lapho amaKristu azelwe ngomoya ngempela akhululwa khona eBabiloni eliKhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga kaDeveli, lapho umehluko okhanyayo wabonakala khona phakathi kwa“mabele” no“khula.”

11. Obani abahlanganiswe ‘okhuleni,’ futhi baye baboshwa kanjani izinyanda?

¹¹ “Ukhula” olungokomfanekiso luhlanganisa wonke amaKristu-mbumbulu, ngisho nanoma yiziphi izihlubuki zanamuhla ezifundisa “okukhubekisayo,” kanye “nabenza okubi.” Lokhu kuyohlanganisa “inceku embi,” ‘izintombi eziyiziwula’ kanye ne“nceku embi nevilaphayo.” (Math. 24:48-51; 25:1-12, 14-30) ‘Ukuboshwa izinyanda’ kwabo balungele ukushiswa akusho ukuqoqelwa kwabo emasontweni ahlukahlukene namahlelo eLobukholwa, ngoba akunakushiwo ukuthi yizingelosi ezabangela ezinjalo izimiso zamasonto zokuhlubuka. Ngokungaphezulu, ukuboshwa izinyanda kwenzeka phakathi ne“sikhathi sokuvuna,” nge“sikhathi sokugcina,” kanti eziningi zezinkolo zobuKristu-mbumbulu sezibe khona amakhulu eminyaka. Ukuboshwa ko“khula” izinyanda kusho ukuthi kusukela ngo-1919 ukwehlukanisa phakathi kwamaKristu eqiniso namaKristu-mbumbulu kuye kwakhanya ngokwengeziwe, kokubili ezingqondweni zabantu nangokwehlukaniswa okungokoqobo. “Ukhula,” noma “abantwana bomubi,” ‘kuboshwa’ ngendlela yokuthi izingelosi ziyaqiniseka ukuthi alubuyeli phakathi kwa“mabele,” noma ku“bantwana bombuso” beqiniso.

12. “Iziko lomillo” lifanekiselani, futhi kunini lapho “ukhula” luyophonswa kulo?

¹² Ekhulumela ukuthi izingelosi zazizokwenzani ngo“khula” ngemva kokulubopha, uJesu wanezela: “Zibaphonse eziko lomlilo; lapho kuyakuba-khona ukukhala nokugedla amazinyo.” (Math. 13:42) Khumbula ukuthi sifunda umfanekiso. Uma “amabele” no“khula” kungokomfanekiso, kungokufanayo futhi nange“ziko lomlilo,” “ukukhala” kanye “nokugedla amazinyo.” UMathewu 25:41, 46 ubonisa ukuthi ‘umlilo ophakade’ ufanekisela ‘[ukujeziswa ukunqunywa] kwaphakade,’ (NW) futhi isAmbulo (20:14; 21:8) sithi “ichibi lomlilo” lisho “ukufa kwesibili,” ukubhujiswa okungenathemba lokuvuka. Ngakho “ukhula” lubheke ekubhujisweni.

13. Kunini futhi kanjani lapho labo abafanekiselwa ukhula beye bakhala futhi bagedla amazinyo abo, kodwa kunini lapho beyokhala khona ngokwengeziwe?

¹³ Njengoba “iziko lomlilo” lifanekisela ukubhujiswa okuphelele, “ukukhala nokugedla amazinyo” kulabo abawu“khula” kumelwe kwenzeke ngaphambi kokuba babhujiswe. Sekungamashumi amaningi eminyaka manje, amaKristumbumbulu, futhi ikakhulukazi “umuntu ongenamthetho”—abefundisi beLobukholwa—ekhala ngenxa yokuthi “abantwana bombuso,” oFakazi BakaJehova abagcotshiwe babathela ngemvula yamaqiniso angokomBhalo anzima, bebadalula lokho abayikho ngempela: “abantwana bomubi.” (Math. 13:38; IsAm., izahl. 8, 9b) Abefundisi abahlubukayo baye bagedlela oFakazi BakaJehova amazinyo abo ngenxa yokumemezela ngokungesabi, hayi nje kuphela “unyaka womusa” kaJehova kodwa futhi no“suku lokuphindisela” kwakhe. (Isaya 61:1, 2) Nokho, lonke “ukhula” olunjalo luyokhala ngokwengeziwe futhi lugedle amazinyo lapho “iNdodana yomuntu” iza ngokushesha izobabhubhisa nalo lonke izwe likaSathane.—Math. 24:30.

‘ABALUNGILEYO BAKHANYA NJENGELANGA’

14. Kukuphi lapho “amabele” ebuthelwa khona, futhi abanjalo “abalungileyo” benzani?

¹⁴ Ngemva kokuyala “abavuni” ukuba babuthele “ukhula” ukuba lushiswe, “iNdodana yomuntu” inikeza izingelosi zayo lomyalo futhi: “Nibuthele amabele engotsheni yami.” (Math. 13:30) Futhi uJesu waphetha incazelo yakhe yomfanekiso ngokuthi: “Khona abalungileyo bayakukhanya njengelanga embusweni kaYise wabo. Onezindlebe makezwe.”—Math. 13:43.

15, 16. (a) Kungani kungekhona ezulwini lapho “abalungileyo” bekhanya khona? (b) Kukuphi futhi kanjani lapho “abalungileyo” bekhanya khona, futhi babuthelwa kuphi?

¹⁵ IsAmbulo 21:23 sithi ngohulumeni woMbuso wasezulwini, iJerusalema Elisha: “Umuzi awudingi ilanga nenyanga ukuba kukhanye kuwo, ngokuba inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu iyawukhanyisa, nesibani sawo siyiWundlu.” Ngakho lowombuso ongokwasezulwini awukudingi ukukhanya ku“bantwana bombuso” abavusiwe. Uphakathi kokukhanya kwenkazimulo kwaphezulu. Yeka ukuthi uhluke kanjani phakathi kwezizwe lapha emhlabeni! (Efe. 4:17, 18; 5:8) Echaza ukuthi uJehova ubenzelani “abantwana bombuso” ngesikhathi beselapha emhlabeni, uPawulu uyaloba: “Owasikhulula emandleni obumnyama nowasibeka embusweni weNdodana yothando lwakhe.”—Kol. 1:13.

¹⁶ Ngakho-ke, ukukhanya kwa“balungileyo njengelanga embusweni kaYise wabo” kubhekisela esimweni sokukhanyiselwa nenkonzo ekhazimulayo yanjalo amaKristu agcotshiwe emhlabeni, lapho ‘ekhanya njengezinkanyiso ezweni.’ (Fil 2:15; Math. 5:14) ‘Ingobo’ abaye babuthelwa kuyo kusukela ngo-1919 kungase kuthiwe ‘ingumbuso kaYise wabo,’ njengoba nebandla lobuKristu liyinhlangano engokwasezulwini, eqaphela ubukhosi bukaJehova bendawo yonke. Iyinhlangano ehlanzekile, ngoba kuyona izingelosi zibutha, zikhiphe “konke okukhubekisayo nabenza okubi.”—Math. 13:30, 41, 43.

“UKUVUNWA KOMHLABA” KUYAQHUBEKA

17. Bangaki “abantwana bombuso” abavunwayo, kodwa kungani umsebenzi wokuvuna uqhubeka?

¹⁷ Konke lokhu kukuthinta kanjani wena? Khumbula ukuthi uJesu waphetha lomfanekiso ngalamazwi: “Onezindlebe makezwe.” (Math. 13:43) Kuyiqiniso, lomfanekiso ufanekisela ukubuthwa kwenani eligcwele la“bantwana bombuso” abadingekayo ukuba bakhe uhulumeni wasezulwini kaKristu. IsAm Isahluko esifanayo (14) sesAmbulo esikhuluma ngo“kuvunwa komhlaba” sembula inani lalabo abavunwa ngaleyondlela ukuba babuse ne“Wundlu” “eNtabeni yaseSiyoni” engokwasezulwini njengabayizi-144 000. Kodwa lesosahluko siyanezela: “Labo bathengwa ebantwini, babe-lulibo kuNkulunkulu nakulo iWundlu.” (IsAm. 14:1-4) Ukuvunwa ko“libo” kubonisa ukuthi kukhona ezinye izithelo okumelwe zibuthwe kamuva njengoba kubonakaliswa ukubuthwa kwezinye izithelo zensimu ekupheleni konyaka wokulima. Ngakho ukuvuna kuyaqhubeka, futhi nawe kuyakuthinta.

18. Ngaphandle kokuvuna “abantwana bombuso,” yimuphi omunye umsebenzi wokwehlukanisa owenzekayo?

¹⁸ Ukuvunwa kwa“bantwana bombuso” kwaqhubeka kusukela ngo-1919 kwaze kwaba sekuqaleni kwawo-1930. Ngenxa yokuthi lamaKristu athembekile agcotshiwe aye ‘avumela ukukhanya kwawo kukhanye,’ abaningi abanye abanezindlebe zokuzwa baye bazivumela ukuba bahlukaniswe no“khula,” noma amaKristu-mbumbulu emasontweni nasemahlelweni eLobukholwa. (Math. 5:16) Umsebenzi wokwehlukanisa nawo wabikizelwa uJesu esiprofethweni sakhe se“siphelo sesimiso sezinto.” (Math. izahl. 24, 25) Waphawula: “Nxa iNdodana yomuntu iza ngenkazimulo yayo nezingelosi zonke ezingcwele kanye nayo, khona izakuhlala esihlalweni sayo senkazimulo; kuzakubuthelwa phambi kwayo izizwe zonke, ibahlukanise abanye kwabanye, njengomalusi ahlukanisa izimvu nezimbuzi, imise izimvu ngakwesokunene sayo kepha izimbuzi ngakwesokhohlo. Laba [izimbuzi] bayakumuka, baye ekujezisweni okuphakade, kodwa abalungileyo baye ekuphileni okuphakade.”—Math. 25:31-33, 46.

19. Ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esifanele, yini eyokwenzeka kwabasele besigaba sa“mabele” nase“sixukwini esikhulu”?

¹⁹ Ngakho, njengoba ukuvunwa kwesigaba sa“mabele” samaKristu agcotshiwe kusondela ekupheleni, ukubuthwa kwe“zimvu” kuyaqhubeka. Ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esifanele abaseleyo besigaba sa“mabele” bayoqeda inkambo yabo yasemhlabeni bahlanganyele ne“Ndodana yomuntu” njengengxenye yombuso wakhe wasezulwini noma uhulumeni. ‘Bayokwamukela umbuso’ nabanye “abangcwele” bezi-144 000. (Dan. 7:18, 22, 27) Ngokuqondene ne“sixuku esikhulu” se“zimvu” ezibuthwayo njengamanje, siyosinda “osizini olukhulu” oluyophawula ukuphela (telos) kwesimiso sezinto samanje sobusathane futhi bayoba ingxenye ya“bantu, nezizwe nezilimi” abayokhonza “iNdodana yomuntu” emhlabeni, ngaphansi ko“kubusa kwayo . . . okuphakade” noma umbuso wasezulwini.—IsAm. 7:4, 9, 10, 14; Dan. 7:13, 14.

20. Iqiniso lokuthi ukuvuna sekuqhubeke isikhathi libonisani; ngakho yini okumelwe uyenze, futhi ngani?

²⁰ Umi kuphi ngokuqondene nokugcwaliseka komfanekiso wa“mabele” no“khula”? Iqiniso lokuthi “ukuvunwa” kwa“bantwana bombuso” sekuqhubeke kakhulu libonisa ukuthi “isiphelo [synteʹleia] salesimiso sezinto” sisondela ekupheleni (telos). Isimo sakho ngaku“bafowabo” bakaKristu abagcotshiwe abanjengamabele nempatho obanikeza yona siyoba isici esinqumayo ukuthi ‘uyonqunywa phakade’ noma uyokwamukela “ukuphila okuphakade.” (Math. 25:34-46) Zibonakalise ungumngane othembekile wesigaba esigcotshiwe sa“mabele,” “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo,” leyo uKristu ayimisele ukuba inikeze “ukudla [okungokomoya] ngesikhathi sakho.” (Math. 24:45) Hlala ukhuthele emsebenzini wokubutha, ngoba khumbula, “lezizindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe ngenjongo yobufakazi kuzo zonke izizwe; khona-ke ukuphela [telos] kuzofika,” futhi “okhuthazelayo kuze kube sekupheleni [telos] nguyena oyakusindiswa.”—Math. 24:13, 14, qhathanisa neNW.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]