Bayajabula Labo Abayotholakala Belindile!

“Zibusisiwe lezozinceku okuyakuthi inkosi, nxa ifika, izifumane zilindile!”—LUKA 12:37.

1. Kungani izinceku zikaJehova ngaso sonke isikhathi ‘ziye zahlala zimlindile,’ kodwa imuphi umbuzo ongase ubuzwe ngokuqondene namasonto eLobukholwa?

“UJEHOVA unguNkulunkulu wokwahlulela; babusisiwe bonke abamhlalelayo.” (Isaya 30:18) Kusukela uJehova amemezela ngokunqotshwa kokugcina kweNyoka nokukhululwa ngeNzalo Ethenjisiwe, izinceku zakhe ezithembekile ziye zahlala zilinde ukugcwaliseka kwalesosithembiso. (Genesise 3:15) Kodwa ingabe izazi zenkolo zeLobukholwa zisiza amalungu amasonto azo ukuba ahlale elinde lokhu kukhululwa kokugcina kuSathane nenzalo yakhe?

2. Kungani “izizwe” kumelwe zilinde “uShilo”?

² Esiprofethweni sakhe, esezokufa, uJakobe wabikezela ukuthi iNzalo yesithembiso yayiyokuza ngesizwe sakwaJuda. Ebiza iNzalo ngegama elingokomfanekiso elithi Shilo, uJakobe wathi: “Nezizwe ziyakumlalela.” NgokweSeptuagint Version yesiGreki, uShilo “wayezolindwa yizizwe zonke.” (Genesise 49:10) “Izizwe” kumelwe zilinde uShilo ngoba uJehova watshela uyisemkhulu kaJakobe uAbrahama: “Nangenzalo yakho ziyakubusiswa izizwe zonke zomhlaba, ngokuba ulalele izwi lami.” (Genesise 22:18) Kodwa okokuqala leyoNzalo, uShilo, noma uMesiya, kwakumelwe ize emhlabeni ngezizukulwane zika-Abrahama futhi izalwe esizweni sakwaJuda.

Insali Elindile YamaJuda

3. Yini uLuka ayishoyo ngokulinda kwamaJuda ngo-29 C.E., futhi ingabe umlando uyakufakazela lokhu?

³ Isazi-mlando esingumJuda uLuka sithi “ngomnyaka weshumi nanhlanu wokubusa kukaTiberiyu Kesari [29 C.E.],” “abantu besabhekile, bezindla bonke ezinhliziyweni zabo ngoJohane [uMbhapathizi] ukuthi ingabe unguKristu [ngesiHeberu, Ma·shiʹach, uMesiya]?” (Luka 3:1, 15) Ingabe umlando wezwe uyawafakazela lamazwi kaLuka? Uhlelo olusha lwesiNgisi lweHistory of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ lukaEmil Schürer luyabuza: “Ingabe lelithemba [ukulindelwa kukaMesiya] lahlala liphila kubantu?” Iphendula ngokuthi: “Emakhulwini okugcina angaphambi kobuKristu, futhi ikakhulukazi ekhulwini lokuqala A.D., labuye laba ngeliphile kakhulu, njengoba iPseudepigrapha [izincwadi zamaJuda zesambulo,] iQumram [imibhalo yomphakathi yasoLwandle Olufile], oJosephus namaVangeli kubonisa ngokungenakuphikwa. . . . Imibono yencwadi kaDaniyeli . . . yaba nethonya elikhulu ekwakhekeni komqondo wobuMesiya.”

4, 5. (a) Kungani amaJuda ayelinde uMesiya ngalesosikhathi, futhi lokhu kufakazelwa kanjani? (b) Hlobo luni lukaMesiya amaJuda amaningi ayelulindile, kodwa uJehova wakwembula kobani ukufika kukaMesiya weqiniso?

⁴ Sikhulumela uMathewu 2:2, esinye isazi sabhala: “Ngalesosikhathi, yonke indawo kwakulindelwe umuntu othile onesithunzi owayezovela eJudiya. AmaJuda ayebheke ngokulangazelela ukufika kukaMesiya. Ngokubala isikhathi esishiwo uDaniyeli (isahl. ix. 25-27), babazi ukuthi kwakusondela isikhathi lapho uMesiya ayezobonakala khona.” Kungase futhi kushiwo ukuthi izazi-mlando zamaRoma uSuetonius noTacitus, kanye nezazi-mlando zamaJuda uJosephus noPhilo, zikhuluma ngalesisimo sokulindela. IManuel Biblique yesiFulentshi, kaBacuez noVigouroux (Umqulu 3, ikhasi 191), iyakuqinisekisa lokhu, futhi ithi: “Abantu babazi ukuthi amasonto ayisikhombisa eminyaka aboniswa uDaniyeli ayesondela ekupheleni; akukho muntu owamangaliswa ukuzwa uJohane uMbhapathizi ememezela ukuthi umbuso kaNkulunkulu wawususondele.”

⁵ Ngakho-ke, kunobufakazi obungokomlando bokuthi amaJuda ayelindele ukuza kukaMesiya, noma iNzalo Ethenjisiwe, nokuthi lokhu kulinda kwakungenxa yokuqaphela kwawo ukugcwaliseka kwesikhathi sesiprofetho.a (Daniyeli 9:24-27) Kuyiqiniso, amaJuda amaningi ngekhulu lokuqala ayengawamahlelo ahlukene enkolo yobuJuda ayelindele uMesiya ongokwezombangazwe, lowo, njengoba kushiwo kuThe Concise Jewish Encyclopedia, “owayeyobhubhisa izitha zamaIsrayeli futhi amise inkathi ephelele yokuthula nokuphelela.” Kodwa insali yamaJuda athembekile yayilindele ngamnyama uMesiya weqiniso. Phakathi kwalaba kwakunguZakariya noElisabethe, abazali bakaJohane uMbhapathizi noSimeyoni, uAna, uJosefa noMariya. (Mathewu 1:18-21; Luka 1:5-17, 30, 31, 46, 54, 55; 2:25, 26, 36-38) Kulaba, kodwa hhayi kubaholi benkolo bobuJuda, uJehova waqinisekisa lokho isiprofetho sesikhathi sikaDaniyeli esasibenze bakulinda okungukuthi, ukufika kweNzalo Ethenjisiwe, noma uMesiya, lapho “sekufikile ukuphelela kwesikhathi.”—Galathiya 4:4.

Ukulinda KwamaKristu Okuqala

6. Abantwana bamaJuda babekhuliswa kanjani, futhi lokhu kwabasiza kanjani abanye ukuba babe abafundi bakaJesu?

⁶ UJosefa noMariya babazi ukuthi umntwana uJesu ababemkhulisa wayezoba uMesiya. Ikhuluma ngokukhuliswa kwakhe, iThe New Encyclopædia Britannica ithi: “UJesu cishe wakhula ngaphansi komthetho owawuhlakulelwe ekhaya nasesinagogeni (ohlanganisa ukufundwa kweBhayibheli, ukulalela uMthetho, umthandazo, nokulinda ukufika kokugcina kukaMesiya).” Abanye abantwana ababekhuliswa emakhaya ensali ethembekile yamaJuda babefakwa ithemba lobuMesiya, futhi lokho kulinda okufanele kwabenza bakwazi okungenani ukuqaphela ngokushesha ubizo lokuba abafundi bakaJesu.—Marku 1:17-20; Johane 1:35-37, 43, 49.

7. (a) Ingabe uJesu wafundisa ukuthi uMbuso wawungaphakathi kumuntu ongumKristu? (b) Yini amaKristu okwakumelwe ayilinde?

⁷ Ngasekupheleni kwenkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni, uJesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe ukulindela “ukuba khona” kwakhe kwesikhathi esizayo nokufika koMbuso wakhe. IBritannica ithi: “Lemiqondo evamile yakudala yokuphela kwezwe, ukwaHlulela Kokugcina, nezwe elisha likaNkulunkulu kuyatholakala emazwini kaJesu alondolozwe ezimfundisweni zeVangeli. Kanjalo, uJesu akazange neze ashintshe uMbuso Wezulu ube okuthile okungena enhliziyweni noma anikeze umqondo wokuthi ukulinda kwamaJuda ikusasa lesintu nezwe kwakuyogcwaliseka ngokuqhubeka kwezinto ezenzekayo ezweni, noma kutholakale ngomzamo womuntu. . . . Akazange ahlanganyele noma akhuthaze ithemba likamesiya wesizwe . . . futhi akazange asekele imizamo yamaZealots yokubeka eduzane kakhulu ukufika koMbuso kaNkulunkulu.” Cha, wanikeza amaKristu isibonakaliso esinezici eziningi okokuqala ayeyokwazi ngaso ukubona ukusondela kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema, khona-ke, kamuva, aqonde ‘isibonakaliso sokuba-khona kwakhe nokuphela kwesimiso sezinto.’—Mathewu 24:3-25:46; Luka 21:20-22.

8. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uJesu wayengakholelwa ukuthi wayezoza eMbusweni wakhe ngokushesha, ngakho-ke isiphi iseluleko asinika abalandeli bakhe?

⁸ Abamelene nenkolo futhi ngisho nabathile abayizazi zenkolo zeLobukholwa bathi amaKristu akuqala ayekholelwa ukuthi iparousia, noma ukuba khona kukaKristu kwakumelwe kwenzeke osukwini lwabo. Abanye baze basikisele nokuthi uJesu ngokwakhe wayekholelwa ukuthi wayezoza eMbusweni wakhe ngokushesha okukhulu. Kodwa emifanekisweni yakhe yamathalenta nomina, uJesu wabonisa ukuthi kwakuyoba kuphela “ngemva kwesikhathi eside” ukuthi wayeyobuyela emandleni obukhosi futhi alungise izinto nezinceku zakhe ayeziphathise impahla yakhe. (Mathewu 25:14, 19; Luka 19:11, 12, 15) Futhi esiprofethweni sakhe ‘ngesibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe nokuphela kwezwe,’ wavuma ukuthi “lolosuku nalelohora” lokufika kokuphela “akakho owazi-lutho ngalo nazingelosi zasezulwini, naNdodana, nguBaba kuphela.” Wanezela: “Ngakho-ke lindani, ngokuba anazi ukuthi iNkosi yenu iyakufika ngaluphi usuku.”—Mathewu 24:3, 14, 36, 42.

9. Ingabe umphostoli uPetru wanikeza umbono wokuthi wayecabanga ukuthi ukuba khona kukaKristu kwakuseduze osukwini lwakhe? Chaza.

⁹ Maqondana nokukholelwa kwamaKristu okuqala ukuthi ukuba khona kukaKristu kuseduze kakhulu, enye incwadib yolwazi olujulile ithi: “Indaba yokucabanga ukuthi uPawulu wayelinde iparousia ngokushesha kweyoku-1 Thes. ayizwakali neze. Kweyoku-1 Thes. 5:10 uPawulu wacabanga ngokuthi kwakungenzeka afe. Asinakususa ukuba nokwenzeka kokuthi ngenkulumo yokuthi ‘thina’ kweyoku-1 Thes. 4:15 no-17 uPawulu wayezihlanganisa nesizukulwane sokugcina ngaphandle kokubhekisela ekutheni wayengomunye waso.” Encwadini yakhe yesibili kuThimothewu, uPawulu washo ngokukhanyayo ukuthi wayengethembi ukwamukela umvuzo wakhe kuze kube “ngalolosuku,” usuku ‘lokubonakaliswa’ kukaKristu eMbusweni wakhe, lapho ‘eyokwahlulela abaphilayo nabafileyo.’—2 Thimothewu 4:1, 8.

10. Ukulinda okufanele kwamaKristu kwabonakala kanjani kungokusindisa ukuphila kumaKristu aseJudiya ekhulu lokuqala?

¹⁰ Lapho elinde ukuba khona kukaJesu Kristu nokufika koMbuso wakhe, amaKristu kwakumelwe ahlale elindile. Ukuqapha okufanele kobuKristu kwenza amaKristu aseJudiya ukuba aqaphele isibonakaliso uJesu ayesinikezile sokubhujiswa okuzayo kweJerusalema. (Luka 21:20-24) Lapho uCestius Gallus ehlasela iJerusalema ngo-66 C.E., amaKristu aqaphile asebenzisa ukuhlehla kwakhe okungalindelekile nokungachazeki futhi abalekela emzini nasezindaweni eziseduze neJudiya. Ngokwezazi-mlando zakuqala zesonto uHegesippus, uEusebius noEpiphanius, amaKristu aseJudiya abalekela ngaphesheya kweJordani endaweni ethiwa iPella. Ukuqapha kwawo ngokomoya kwawasindisa ekufeni noma ekuthunjweni lapho amabutho amaRoma ebuya ngo-70 C.E. ngaphansi kukaJenene Titus futhi ebhubhisa iJerusalema. Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba ajabula kanjani lamaKristu ngokuthi ahlala elindile!

Ukulinda KwamaKristu Ngemva Kuka-70 C.E.

11, 12. Kwakumelwe ube yini umbono ofanele wamaKristu ngemva kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-70 C.E., futhi lokhu kwakuyowavikela kanjani?

¹¹ Njengoba ukuba khona kukaJesu kwakuyokwenzeka kuphela “emva kwesikhathi eside,” kwakumelwe sibe yini isimo esifanele samaKristu ngemva kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-70 C.E. nakuwo wonke amakhulu eminyaka kuze kube yisikhathi sokuphela? Ingabe ukulinda kwamaKristu kwakuzophola, kubekelwe eceleni? Cha! Izincwadi ezintathu zikamphostoli uJohane nesAmbulo, zonke zabhalwa ngemva kuka-70 C.E. Encwadini yakhe yokuqala, uJohane uxwayisa ‘ngabaphikukristu,’ futhi utshela amaKristu ukuba ahlale emunye noKristu lapho elinde “ukuba-khona” kwaKhe nokubonakala kwaKhe. (1 Johane 2:18, 28; 3:2) Kuzo zontathu izincwadi, uJohane uxwayisa ngezihlubuki. Ngokuqondene nesAmbulo, kusukela ekuqaleni kuya ekugcineni sigxile ekufikeni kukaKristu enkazimulweni yoMbuso wakhe, futhi amazwi aso ngasekugcineni athi: “Amen. Woza, Nkosi Jesu!”—IsAmbulo 22:20.

¹² AmaKristu kwakumelwe agxile kuyiparousia. Okungukuthi, usuku ngalunye kwakumelwe aphile ngokulinda “ukuba-khona” kukaKristu. UErnst Benz, isazi somlando wesonto, uyabhala: “‘Izinto zokugcina’ zaziyizinto ezibalulekile, ngokombono wokuphuthuma, kwabathembekile bebandla lokuqala. Umongo oyinhloko wokholo lwabo nethemba labo laliwukuza koMbuso kaNkulunkulu.” Ngisho noma uMbuso wawungeke ufike ngesikhathi sokuphila kwawo, lombono ofanele wokulinda wawuyovikela amaKristu ukuba angozeli ngokomoya futhi angahileleki ezweni likaSathane.—1 Johane 2:15-17.

13, 14. Yikuphi ukweqisa okubili okwehlukene okwakukhona phakathi kwamaKristu ahlubukayo ekhulwini lesibili nelesithathu C.E.?

¹³ Ngakho-ke, njengoba ukuhlubuka kwaqala ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli, abanye bathola imiqondo ephambene ngokuba seduze kokufika kukaKristu eMbusweni wakhe. Encwadini yakhe iThe Early Church and the World, uC. J. Cadoux uthi: “UIrenæus [wekhulu lesibili C.E.] noHippolytus [ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lesibili nasekuqaleni kwelesithathu C.E.] bobabili bacabanga ukuthi kwakungenzeka ukubala ngezinga elithile isikhathi esiqondile sokufika kokuphela.” Abanye, ngenxa yokubala izikhathi okuyiphutha, bacabanga ukuthi iminyaka eyizi-6 000 yomlando wesintu yayiseduze nokuphela nokuthi ukuqala kweminyaka eyinkulungwane engeyesikhombisa kwakuseduze. Nokho babenephutha. Kodwa okungenani babezama ukuhlala bephapheme ngokomoya.

¹⁴ Ngakolunye uhlangothi, amaKristu amaningi ahlubukayo alahlekelwa umuzwa wokuphuthuma nokulinda uMbuso. ITheological Dictionary of the New Testament iyasitshela: “Ethonywe yimibono kaPlato nolwazi lwamaStoyiku, amaChristian Apologists [“ofata” besonto ababephila ekhulwini lesibili nasekuqaleni kwekhulu lesithathu leminyaka] awazikhathazi ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Ngokuqondene nekusasa lesintu nezwe, kwande umqondo wokuphelela komKristu ngamunye. . . . Umqondo wamaGreki wokungafi komphefumulo, ukuphila okuphakade nolwazi kubaluleke kakhulu kunomqondo weBhayibheli [woMbuso kaNkulunkulu]. . . . Ngokufanayo nango-Origen [owaphila cishe phakathi no-185 no-254 C.E.], . . . cishe akavezi lutho ngesigijimi seBhayibheli sombuso kaNkulunkulu.”

15. Njengoba ukuhlubuka kwakwanda, yini amasonto amadala ayenza maqondana nemfundiso “ngeZinto Zokugcina”?

¹⁵ Ngokuyinhloko, lona kwakuwumbono owawuvamile kuwo wonke amakhulu eminyaka phakathi kwamasonto okuthiwa awobuKristu. IThe Encyclopædia Britannica ithi: “Kusukela ngesikhathi sombusi wamaRoma uConstantine (owafa ngo-337) ukuqashelwa kobuKristu ngokwezombangazwe kuye kwaqondwa njengokugcwaliseka kwethemba loMbuso kaKristu. Imibono ngekusasa lesintu nezwe yaqhubeka ikhona emahlelweni omshoshaphansi ayevinjelwe.” “Enkathini engaphambi kwesikhathi seNguquko sekhulu le-16 leminyaka, amaqembu ezihlubuki . . . abeka iSonto laseRoma icala lokulahla ukulinda isiphetho sesintu nezwe esiseduze kakhulu.”

‘Babusisiwe Labo Abatholakala Belindile’

16. Imaphi amaqembu avela ekhulwini le-19 leminyaka, futhi yini amanye awo ayikholelwa?

¹⁶ Njengoba “amasonto amadala obuKristu” ayengasakulindile ukuba khona kukaKristu nokwamukela kwakhe amandla oMbuso, kwashiyelwa kulokho lawomasonto akubiza ngokuthi “amaqembu ezihlubuki” ukuba enze kanjalo. Ekhulwini le-19, amaqembu amaningana anjalo avela emazweni lapho iBhayibheli nezincwadi zokulitadisha, lalitholwa nangabantu abavamile. Amasonto amakhulu, lawo noma iyiphi imfundiso “ngeZinto Zokugcina” yayingasabalulekile kuwona, abiza ngokwedelela amaqembu anjalo ngokuthi ama“adventist” noma ama“millennialists,” (abakholelwa ekuzeni kukaKristu noma ekubuseni kukaKristu kweminyaka eyinkulungwane), ngoba lawomaqembu ayelinde ukufika kwesibili kukaKristu futhi ekholelwa ukuthi uKristu wayezobusa iminyaka eyinkulungwane. Amaningi alamaqembu alindela uKristu ukuba abuyele emhlabeni ukuze amise uMbuso wakhe weminyaka eyinkulungwane. Abanye babo babala ukufika kukaKristu kwesibili njengokwakumelwe kwenzeke ngo-1835 (abalandeli baka-Irving, eNgilandi), ngo-1836 (abalandeli bakaBengel, eJalimane), ngo-1843 (abalandeli bakaMiller, eUnited States) nango-1889 (iqembu lamaMennonite eRashiya).

17, 18. Amasonto amadala eLobukholwa asabela kanjani, kodwa yini uJesu athi wayeyoyibheka uma ‘efika’?

¹⁷ Ngokusobala, “amasonto amadala obuKristu” ajabula uma lezizibikezelo zingagcwaliseki. Ngokuqinisekile, amaSonto amaKatolika, obuOrthodox nawamaProtestani amakhulu awawenzanga amaphutha anjalo. Kuwona imfundiso “ngeZinto Zesiphelo yayingabalulekile.” Ayesekuyeke kudala ‘ukulinda.’—Marku 13:37.

¹⁸ Kodwa, uJesu watshela abafundi bakhe: “Zibusisiwe lezozinceku okuyakuthi inkosi, nxaifika, izifumane zilindile; . . . [yi]muphi-ke umphathi othembekileyo noqondileyo, inkosi yakhe eyakumbeka phezu kwabendlu bayo ukuba abanike isabelo sabo sokudla ngesikhathi sakho? Ibusisiwe leyonceku okuyakuthi inkosi yayo, nxa ifika, iyifumane yenze njalo.”—Luka 12:37-43.

19, 20. (a) Iliphi iqembu elavela ngawo-1870, futhi kungani lazehlukanisa namanye amaqembu? (b) Imuphi umagazini owaba umlomo onamandla okhulumela leliqembu, futhi lomagazini uye walisiza kanjani inani elikhulayo lamaKristu eqiniso?

¹⁹ Phakathi kwamaqembu athiwa awezihlubuki ayelindele isibonakaliso sokubuya kukaKristu engxenyeni yokugcina yekhulu le-19 leminyaka, kwakuyiqembu elifunda iBhayibheli elalenganyelwe uCharles Russell ePittsburgh, eUnited States. URussell wabhala: “Kusukela ngo-1870 kuya ku-1875 kwakuyisikhathi sokwanda njalo emuseni nasolwazini nasothandweni lukaNkulunkulu neZwi lakhe. . . . Nokho, ngalesosikhathi sasimane sithola uhlaka nje lokuhlela kukaNkulunkulu, futhi silahla amaphutha amaningi esasinawo. . . . Sezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu ngephutha lamaSecond Adventists, ayelindele ukuthi uKristu uyofika ngokwenyama.”

²⁰ URussell nababekanye naye basheshe bakuqonda ukuba khona kukaKristu ukuthi kwakungenakubonakala. Bazehlukanisa namanye amaqembu, futhi ngo-1879, baqala ukunyathelisa ukudla okungokomoya ngeZion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. Kusukela ngonyaka wokuqala wokunyatheliswa kwawo, lomagazini wakhomba phambili, ngokubala okunengqondo okungokomBhalo, onyakeni ka-1914 njengonyaka oqalisa inkathi entsha esikhathini seBhayibheli. Ngakho-ke, lapho ukuba khona kukaKristu okungabonakali kuqala ngo-1914, ajabula lamaKristu ngokutholakala elindile! Sekuyiminyaka engaphezu kwekhulu, lomagazini, manje obizwa ngokuthi INqabayokulinda—Ememezela UMbuso KaJehova, usiza inani elandayo lamaKristu eqiniso ukuba ‘aqaphe’ futhi ‘alinde.’ (Marku 13:33) Ukuthi lokhu kuye kwenziwa kanjani kuzocatshangelwa esihlokweni esilandelayo.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

Imibuzo Yokubukeza

□ Yini eyafakazela ukuthi ekhulwini lokuqala amaJuda ayelindele uMesiya?

□ Ukulinda kwawasiza kanjani amaKristu angamaJuda?

□ Ukuhlubuka kwaba namuphi umphumela ekulindeni kwamaKristu?

□ Hlobo luni lwenceku uKristu ayeyolubheka njengoba isikhathi sokuphela sisondela?

□ Iliphi iqembu lamaKristu elalihlangabezana nalezizimfuneko, futhi ngosizo lwamuphi umagazini?

[Isithombe ekhasini 12]

Abanyathelisi balomagazini baye bahlala belindile