1-2. (a) Yisiphi isimemezelo osekuseduze ukuthi izizwe zisenze? (b) Yiphi imibuzo esizaxoxa ngayo?

AKE ucabange izizwe sezenze isimemezelo ‘sokuthula lokuvikeleka.’ Zingazitshaya izifuba zisithi sekulokuthula okungakaze kube khona emhlabeni. Zizafuna sicabange ukuthi zizaqeda zonke inhlupho zabantu. Kodwa okuyabe kuzalandela ngeke zikuvimbe. Kungani kunjalo? Isiphrofetho seBhayibhili sithi ‘ukubhujiswa kuzazijuma masinyane futhi kazisoze ziphunyuke ngitsho.’—1 Thes. 5:3.

² Kulemibuzo eqakathekileyo okumele siyiphendule: Kuzakwenzakalani ngesikhathi ‘sokuhlupheka okukhulu’? UJehova uzabe ekhangelele ukuthi senzeni ngalesosikhathi? Singalungiselela njani khathesi ukuze siqhubeke sithembekile ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu?​—Mat. 24:21.

3. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuSambulo 17:5, 15-18, uNkulunkulu uzayibhubhisa njani “iBhabhiloni Enkulu”?

³ Bala iSambulo 17:5, 15-18. “IBhabhiloni Enkulu” izabhujiswa. Njengoba sesibonile, izizwe ngeke zikuvimbe okuzakwenzakala ngalesosikhathi. Kungani kunjalo? ‘UNkulunkulu uzakufaka ezinhliziyweni zazo ukuthi zenze umcabango wakhe.’ Umcabango lowo ngowokubhubhisa inkolo yamanga okugoqela amasonto azithi  alandela uKhristu. UNkulunkulu uzafaka umcabango wakhe ezinhliziyweni ‘zempondo ezilitshumi zesilo esibomvu gebhu.’ Impondo ezilitshumi zimela bonke ohulumende abasekela “isilo” esiyinhlanganiso yomanyano wezizwe okuthiwa yi-United Nations. (Isam. 17:3, 11-13; 18:8) Ukuhlupheka okukhulu kuzaqala nxa ohulumende laba sebehlasela inkolo yamanga. Lokhu kuzakwenzakala abantu belibele futhi kuzabesabisa.

4. (a) Izizwe zingathi ziyihlaselelani iBhabhiloni Enkulu? (b) Kuyini okuzakwenziwa yilabo akade bengamalunga enkolo yamanga?

⁴ Kasikwazi ukuthi izizwe zizakuthi ziyihlaselelani iBhabhiloni Enkulu. Kungenzakala zithi iphambanisa ukuthula futhi ihlala ingenela endabeni zombusazwe kumbe ziyisole ngokuthi isibuthelele inotho lempahla enengi kakhulu. (Isam. 18:3, 7) Kukhanya izizwe kazisoze zibhubhise wonke umuntu olilunga lenkolo yamanga kodwa zizatshabalalisa inkolo yamanga. Labo akade bengamalunga enkolo ezizatshabalaliswa bazadana kakhulu lapho benanzelela ukuthi abafundisi babo babakhohlisile. Bangazama lokuphika ukuthi bake baba ngamalunga enkolo lezo.

5. UJehova uthembiseni mayelana lokuhlupheka okukhulu futhi kungani ethembisile?

⁵ IBhayibhili kalisitsheli ukuthi ukubhujiswa kweBhabhiloni Enkulu kuzathatha isikhathi esinganani kodwa siyakwazi ukuthi akusoze kuthathe isikhathi eside. (Isam. 18:10, 21) UJehova uthembise ukuthi ‘uzaziphungula’ insuku lezo ukuze abakhethiweyo bakhe basinde futhi inkolo yeqiniso ingabhujiswa. (Mak. 13:19, 20) Kodwa uzabe ekhangelele ukuthi senzeni kusukela ekuqaliseni kokuhlupheka okukhulu kusiya empini ye-Amagedoni?

6. Kuyini okunye okumele sikwenze ngaphandle kokuzehlukanisa leBhabhiloni Enkulu?

⁶ Esihlokweni esidlulileyo sifunde ukuthi uJehova ufuna siphume siphele  eBhabhiloni Enkulu. Kodwa ukwenza njalo akwenelanga, kumele sizimisele ukukhonza uJehova. Singakwenza njani lokhu? Kasixoxeni ngendlela ezimbili.

7. (a) Singenzani ukuze sihlale siziphatha ngendlela efunwa nguJehova? (b) Kungani uHebheru 10:24, 25 esithi kumele sihlangane ndawonye futhi kungani lokho kuqakatheke kakhulu khathesi?

⁷ Okokuqala, kumele siqhubeke siziphatha ngendlela ethokozisa uJehova. Kasiwamukeli amanyala enziwa ngabantu bomhlaba lo. Ngokwesibonelo, kasivumelani laloba yikuphi ukuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini okugoqela ukutshada kwezitabane lokunye ezikwenzayo. (Mat. 19:4, 5; Rom. 1:26, 27) Okwesibili, kumele siqhubeke sikhonza ndawonye lamanye amaKhristu. Sizaqhubeka singena imihlangano kungelani lokuthi siseWolu yoMbuso, endlini yomzalwane kumbe sicatshile kwenye indawo. Kasisoze siyekele ukungena imihlangano loba sekutheni. Khathesi kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi siyingene ‘ikakhulu njengoba sibona usuku lusondela.’​—Bala uHebheru 10:24, 25.

8. Kumele ukuthi sizabe sitshumayela sisithini ngesikhathi esizayo?

⁸ Kumele ukuthi umlayezo esiwutshumayelayo uzantshintsha ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. Khathesi sitshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso njalo sizama ukwenza abafundi. Kodwa ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu kungenzeka sitshumayele umlayezo olamandla njengesiqhotho. (Isam. 16:21) Singabe sitshumayela sisithi sekuseduze ukuthi umhlaba kaSathane ubhujiswe. Ngokuya kwesikhathi sizatshelwa ukuthi sizatshumayela sisithini sibili lokuthi sizatshumayela njani. Kambe ukuthi sizasebenzisa indlela zokutshumayela lokufundisa ebesizisebenzisa okweminyaka edlula 100 kumbe sizantshintsha? Kasikwazi. Kungelani lokuthi sizatshumayela njani, kukhanya sizakuba lesibusiso sokutshumayela ngesibindi umlayezo wesahlulelo ovela kuJehova.​—Hez. 2:3-5.

9. Kuyini okungenziwa yizizwe kodwa kuyini esingakuthandabuziyo?

⁹ Kukhanya izizwe zizacaphuka zisizwa esikutshumayelayo futhi zizame ukusivimba ukuthi singaphindi sitshumayele. Ngalesosikhathi sizathembela kuJehova ukuthi asisekele ekutshumayeleni njengoba nje sithembele kuye khathesi. Kasithandabuzi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu uzasinika amandla okwenza intando yakhe.​—Mik. 3:8.

10. ULukha 21:25-28 uthi abantu abanengi bazakwenzani ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu?

¹⁰ Bala uLukha 21:25-28. Ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu, abantu bazamangala lapho bebona kutshabalala konke ababecabanga ukuthi kuzahlala kukhona. ‘Bazadabuka’ futhi bakhathazeke ngokuthi bazakufa ngesikhathi leso esizabe sinzima kulazo zonke selokhu kwadalwa abantu. (Zef. 1:14, 15) Kungenzakala ukuphila kube nzima ngitsho lasebantwini bakaJehova. Singathwala nzima ngenxa yokuthi kasisoze sihlanganyele ezintweni zomhlaba. Mhlawumbe singaswela lezinye izinto esizidingayo.

11. (a) Kungani izizwe zizafuna ukuhlasela oFakazi bakaJehova? (b) Kungani kungamelanga sikwesabe ukuhlupheka okukhulu?

¹¹ Abantu ababengamalunga enkolo eziyabe sezibhujisiwe bangazonda lapho  bebona ukuthi oFakazi bakaJehova yiyo yodwa inkolo engabhujiswanga. Bazatshela abanye indlela abayabe bezonde ngayo futhi bangasebenzisa lezokuxhumana ukwenza njalo. Izizwe kanye lombusi wazo uSathane zizasizonda ngenxa yokuthi inkolo yethu yiyo yodwa eyabe isele. Zizabona ukuthi zehlulekile ukutshabalalisa zonke inkolo emhlabeni yikho zizazama ukusihlasela. Ngalesosikhathi izizwe zizakuba nguGogi waseMagogi. * Zizamanyana ukuze zihlasele ngolaka abantu bakaJehova. (Hez. 38:2, 14-16) Singaqala ukukhathazeka ngokuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu ngenxa yokuthi kulokunye esingakwaziyo mayelana lalesosikhathi. Kodwa akumelanga sikwesabe ukuhlupheka okukhulu, uJehova uzasitshela okumele sikwenze ukuze sisinde. (Hubo. 34:19) ‘Sizaphakamisa amakhanda ethu’ ngoba siyabe sikwazi ukuthi ‘ukukhululwa kwethu sekuseduze.’ *

12. ‘Inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo’ yenzeni ukuze isincedise sikulungele okuzakwenzakala esikhathini esizayo?

¹² ‘Inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo’ iyasincedisa ukuthi sihlale sithembekile ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. (Mat. 24:45) Lokhu ikwenza ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo, kodwa khathesi sizaxoxa ngemihlangano yesabelo ka-2016 kusiya ku-2018. Emihlanganweni le safunda ngobuntu okumele sibe labo njengoba usuku lukaJehova seluseduze. Asixoxeni ngabo ubuntu lobu.

13. Singenzani ukuze sihlale siqotho kuJehova futhi kungani lokhu kumele sikwenze khathesi?

¹³ Ubuqotho: Umhlangano wesabelo ka-2016 wawulesihloko esithi “Hlala Uqotho KuJehova!” Safunda ukuthi nxa singaba ngabangane abaseduze loJehova sizakuba qotho kuye. Sakhunjuzwa lokuthi sizasondela kuye nxa singathandaza ngenhliziyo yonke futhi sitaditshe iLizwi lakhe. Ukwenza njalo kusinika amandla okulwisana lenhlupho ezinkulu. Sikhangelele ukuthi kuzakuba lezimo ezizakwenza kube nzima kakhulu ukuhlala siqotho kuNkulunkulu lokusekela uMbuso wakhe njengoba ukuhlupheka okukhulu sekuseduze. Kumele ukuthi abantu bazaqhubeka besichothoza. (2 Phet. 3:3, 4) Okunye okuzabangela lokhu yikuthi kasisekeli ezombusazwe. Kumele sizimisele ukuhlala siqotho khathesi ukuze siqhubeke siqotho ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu.

14. (a) Yiluphi untshintsho oluzakuba khona oluphathelane labazalwane abakhokhelayo? (b) Kungani kuzadingeka ukuthi sibe qotho ngalesosikhathi?

¹⁴ Ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu kuzakuba lontshintsho oluphathelane labazalwane abakhokhelayo. AmaKhristu agcotshiweyo ayabe elokhu esesemhlabeni azathathwa asiwe ezulwini ukuze alwe empini ye-Amagedoni. (Mat. 24:31; Isam. 2:26, 27) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi iQula Elibusayo liyabe lingasekho  emhlabeni. Kodwa ixuku elikhulu lizaqhubeka lihlelekile ngoba abazalwane abafaneleyo bazalikhokhela. Kuzamele sitshengise ukuthi siqotho ngokubasekela abazalwane labo langokulalela abazasitshela khona okuyabe kuvela kuNkulunkulu ngoba lokhu yikho okuzakwenza sisinde.

15. Singenzani ukuze siqinisele futhi kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi siqinisele khathesi?

¹⁵ Ukuqinisela: Umhlangano wesabelo ka-2017 wawulesihloko esithi “Ungalahli Ithemba”! Umhlangano lo wasinceda ukuthi senelise ukuqinisela nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho. Safunda ukuthi okusenza siqinisele yikuthemba uJehova hatshi ukuthemba ukuthi izimo zizakuba ngcono. (Rom. 12:12) Singasikhohlwa isithembiso sikaJesu esithi: “Lowo oqinisela kuze kube sekucineni nguye ozasindiswa.” (Mat. 24:13) Isithembiso lesi sitshengisa ukuthi kumele sihlale sithembekile kungelani lobunzima obusehlelayo. Nxa singaqinisela khathesi kungelani lokuthi sihlangana labuphi ubunzima, ukholo lwethu luzaqina ukuhlupheka okukhulu kungakaqalisi.

16. Kuyini okwenza sibe lesibindi futhi singenzani ukuze sibe laso khathesi?

¹⁶ Isibindi: Umhlangano wesabelo ka-2018 wawulesihloko esithi “Woba Lesibindi”! Umhlangano lo wasinceda sazwisisa ukuthi ukuba lesibindi akuyi ngeziphiwo esilazo. Sibonile endimeni edlulileyo ukuthi ukuthemba uJehova yikho okwenza siqinisele. Ukumthemba kuphinda kusincede ukuthi sibe lesibindi seqiniso. Manje kuyini esingakwenza ukuze simthembe kakhulu uJehova? Kumele sibale iLizwi lakhe nsuku zonke futhi sicabangisise ngokuthi wabasindisa njani abantu bakhe ngesikhathi esidlulileyo. (Hubo. 68:20; 2 Phet. 2:9) Nxa sesihlaselwa yizizwe ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu kuzamele sibe lesibindi futhi sithembe uJehova ukwedlula loba nini. (Hubo. 112:7, 8; Heb. 13:6) Singamthemba khathesi sizakuba lesibindi nxa sesihlaselwa nguGogi. *

17. Kungani kungamelanga siyesabe impi ye-Amagedoni? (Khangela umfanekiso ongaphandle.)

¹⁷ Esihlokweni esidlulileyo sibonile ukuthi inengi lethu siphile impilo yethu yonke ezinsukwini zokucina. Kodwa silethemba lokusinda ekuhluphekeni okukhulu. Impi ye-Amagedoni yiyo ezaqeda umumo lo wezinto. Lanxa kunjalo asesabi lutho ngoba impi le ngekaJehova, thina kasisoze silwe. (Zaga. 1:33; Hez. 38:18-20; Zek. 14:3) UJehova uzatshela uJesu ukuthi sekuyisikhathi sokuthi ahlasele. UJesu uzakhokhela amabutho kaNkulunkulu okutsho abagcotshiweyo abayabe sebevuselwe ezulwini kanye lamatshumi ezinkulungwane ezingilosi. Bazakulwa loSathane lamadimoni akhe kanye lamabutho akhe asemhlabeni.​—Dan. 12:1; Isam. 6:2; 17:14.

18. (a) UJehova usithembiseni? (b) ISambulo 7:9, 13-17 sikunceda njani ukuthi ungathandabuzi ngekusasa lakho?

¹⁸ UJehova uthembise wathi: “Akulasikhali esikhandelwe wena esizaphumelela.” (Isaya. 54:17) “Ixuku elikhulu” labantu bakaJehova abathembekileyo ‘lizaphuma ekuhluphekeni okukhulu’ liphila. Ngemva kwalokho lizaqhubeka lisenzela uJehova inkonzo engcwele. (Bala iSambulo 7:9, 13-17.) IBhayibhili lisinika izizatho ezinengi ezenza singathandabuzi ukuthi sizasinda. Siyakwazi ukuthi “uJehova uyabalondoloza abathembekileyo.” (Hubo. 31:23) Bonke abamthandayo futhi abamdumisayo bazathokoza okwamagama lapho bebona elwela ibizo lakhe elingcwele.​—Hez. 38:23.

19. Yiliphi ithemba elimangalisayo osekuseduze ukuthi ligcwaliseke?

¹⁹ Ubona angani u-2 Thimothi 3:2-5 ubengabhalwa njani aluba ubechaza abantu abaphila emhlabeni omutsha ongelaSathane? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Abantu Abazaphila Emhlabeni Omutsha.”) Umfowethu uGeorge Gangas, * owayelilunga leQula Elibusayo wakubeka ngalindlela: “Ake ucabange ukuthi umhlaba uyabe usunjani nxa abantu bonke sebengabafowethu labodadewethu. Sekuseduze ukuthi uthole isibusiso sokuphila emhlabeni omutsha. Nxa uJehova ephila, lawe uzaqhubeka uphila. Sizaphila phakade.” Leli lithemba elimangalisayo sibili!