1, 2. Abantu bakaJehova baliqala njani ilanga lakhe?

IINCEKU ZAKAJEHOVA bezisolo zilinde ukuzaliseka kweemphorofido zakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, uJeremiya bekalindele bona abantu beBhabhiloni bazokubhubhisa uJuda. Nangambala, lokho kwenzeka ngomnyaka ka-607. (Joromiya 25:8-11) U-Isaya yena waphorofida bona uJehova uzokubuyisa amaJuda aseenarheni ezinye awabuyisele kwaJuda, ngemva kwalokho wathi: “Babusisiwe boke abaqalelela kuye.” (Isaya 30:18) NoMikha naye bekalindele bona isiphorofido sakaJehova sizaliseke, wabe wathi: “Mina ngiqalelela [kuJehova] ngethemba.” (Mikha 7:7) Sekumakhulu weminyaka iinceku zakaZimu zilinde ukuthi uMesiya, namkha uKrestu uyeza.—Lukasi 3:15; 1 Pitrosi 1:10-12. * (Qala ikwekwezi engenzasi.)

² Nathi namhlanjesi sisalindele iimphorofido ezikhuluma ngomBuso kaJehova bona zizaliseke. UJesu njengeKosi yomBuso loyo nguye-ke ozobatjhaphulula msinyazana abantu  bakaZimu ephasini eliyingozeli. Uzobabhubhisa boke abantu abakhohlakeleko aqede nomtlhago. (1 Jwanisi 5:19) Yeke kufuze sihlale sililindile ilanga lakaJehova ngombana lingafika nanyana kunini. Kufuze senze koke esingakwenza bona sililungele.

3. Yini esingazibuza yona nangabe sele silinde isiphelo isikhathi eside?

³ Sililindele ngabovu ilanga lapha woke umuntu azabe enza khona intando kaZimu ephasini. (Matewu 6:10) Kodwana nangabe sele silindele isiphelo isikhathi eside nje, singathoma sizibuze, ‘Kubayini kanti kufuze sihlale silinde isiphelo njengesizokufika nanyana kunini?’

4. Kubayini kuqakathekile ngathi ‘ukuhlala silindile’?

⁴ UJesu wayala abalandeli bakhe wathi, “hlalani nilindile” wabuye wathi,“Yelelani.” Ngikho-ke kuqakathekile bona sihlale silinde bonyana isiphelo singafika kungasikade. (Matewu 24:42; Lukasi 21:34-36) Nehlangano kaJehova ihlala isikhumbuza bona, ‘silinde ekurhabeni kokufika kwelanga lakaZimu’ begodu kufuze sidzimelelise imikhumbulwethu eenthembisweni zakhe zephasi elitjha.—Funda 2 Pitrosi 3:11-13.

5. Ngiziphi ezinye iinzathu ezenza sihlale silindele ilanga lakaJehova?

⁵ Nangabe abalandeli bakaJesu bangeenkhathi zabapostoli bekufuze bahlale balilindile ilanga lakaJehova, kuqakatheke khulu nangathi namhlanjesi bona sihlale sililindile. Kubayini sitjho njalo? Kungombana iimbonakaliso uJesu azitjhoko zitjengisa ukuthoma kwakhe ukubusa emBusweni kaZimu kusukela kwango-1914, zibuye zitjengise bonyana siphila emihleni yokuphela, namkha emihleni ‘yokuphela kwesikhathi.’ Ngokwesibonelo, njengombana uJesu aphorofida, izinto ezimbi ezenzeka ephasina ziyathuwelela ziya phambili, begodu nazi neendaba ezihle sele zitjhunyayelwa ephasini loke. (Matewu 24:3, 7-14) Nokho uJesu akhenge atjho bona amalanga wokuphela azokuthatha isikhathi esingangani, yeke kufuze silindele ukobana isiphelo singafika nanyana kunini.

6. Sazi njani ukuthi ubujamo bephasi buzokuba bumbi khulu nasele kutjhidele isiphelo?

⁶ Kghani ‘imihla yokuphela kwesikhathi’ itjho isikhathi esisezako na, lapha izinto zizokuba zimbi khulu khona? IBhayibheli liyatjho bona abantu bazokuthuwelela nokukhohlakala “ngemihla yokuphela.” (2 Thimothi 3:1, 13; Matewu 24:21; IsAmbulo 12:12) Njengombana izinto zizimbi nje thina sisalindele bona zibhebhedlhe ukudlula namhlanjesi.

7. UMatewu 24:37-39 usifundisani ngobujamo bezinto emihleni yokuphela?

⁷ Abanye abantu bangabe bacabange bonyana ngaphambi ‘kokuhlupheka’ namkha isizi elikhulu kuzokuba nezipi eenarheni zoke, abantu abanengi bagule, kusesenjalo abanye babulawe yindlala. (IsAmbulo 7:14) Nakungenzeka njalo, bekuzokuba sepepeneneni kiwo woke umuntu bonyana isiphorofido seBhayibheli siyazaliseka. Kwabantu abangalikholwako iBhayibheli nabo bekuzobakhanyela lokho. Angithi phela uJesu wathi emalangeni wokuphela abantu abanengi angekhe ‘bayelele.’ Bazase baziphilele ukuphila kwabo njengemhleni, bese bangenwa mamanzi ngemadolweni nabalemuka bona ilanga lakaJehova sele lifikile. (Funda uMatewu 24:37-39, NW.) Kuyakhanya-ke. Akukafuzi silindele bona izinto zibe zimbi khulu! Ngaphambi kobana kufike ‘ukuhlupheka  okukhulu. Akukafuzi silindele bona kuzokufika ezingeni lokobana abantu bakatelelwe ukholelwa bona isiphelo sitjhidele.’—Lukasi 17:20; 2 Pitrosi 3:3, 4.

8. Njengombana iimbonakaliso zakaJesu sele zisiyelelisile nje, yini ekufuze siqiniseke ngayo?

⁸ Iimbonakaliso uJesu azitjela abalandeli bakhe zikubeka emtarini bona bazabe baphila esikhathini esinjani. Yeke, abalandeli bakaJesu kufuze bazithathe njengesiyeleliso. (Matewu 24:27, 42) Solo kwango-1914, iimbonakaliso uJesu azitjhoko bezisolo zizaliseka. Nje-ke, siyaqiniseka bona siphila ‘emihleni yokuphela kwesikhathi.’ Kazi uJehova sele aquntile ukuthi uzolibhubhisa nini iphasi lakaSathana elikhohlakelekweli.

9. Kubayini kufuze sihlale silindele isiphelo bona sifike kungasikade?

⁹ Kubayini kanti kufuze sihlale silindele ukuthi isiphelo singafika kungasikade? Kungombana silalela uJesu Krestu. Begodu nasiqala iimbonakaliso uJesu asinikela zona siyabona ukuthi sebele zenzeka phambi kwamehlwethu. Yeke, siyakholwa bona isiphelo sitjhidele, ingasi ngombana sithemba nanyana yini esiyizwako, kodwana siyakholwa ngombana nanzi neemphorofido zeBhayibheli zizaliseka siqalile. Ngikho-ke kufuze sihlale silindile, siphaphame begodu sikulungele bona isiphelo sifike.

10, 11. (a) Kubayini uJesu atjela abafundi bakhe ‘bona bayelele’? (b) Yini uJesu athi abalandeli bakhe kufuze bayenze nangabe isiphelo asifiki msinyana ngendlela ebebacabanga ngayo? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

¹⁰ Inengi lethu lilotjhe uJehova ngokuthembeka begodu kade lilindele bona isiphelo sifike. Ukuthi silinde isikhathi esingangani akusitshwenyi lokho, kwethu nje kukuthi sihlale silindele ilangelo bona lifike msinyana. Kufuze kube kukuthi sizilungiselele lokha uJesu nakeza ukuzokubhubhisa iphasi lakaSathana. Ungawalibali amezwi uJesu awatjela abalandeli bakhe nakathi: “Qaphelani! Yelelani! Anazi bona isikhatheso sizokufika nini. Kuzokuba njengendoda enekhambo: Itjhiya umzayo ezandleni zeensebenzi zayo, esinye nesinye isisebenzi sinomsebenzaso bese itjela leso esisesangweni bona sibeke ilihlo. Ngalokho-ke hlalani niqaphile ngombana anazi bona umninimuzi uzokufika nini, kungaba sentambama, phakathi kobusuku, ngamasa namkha ekuseni. Nakeza ningakatjheji, anganifumani nilele. Lokho engikutjho kini, ngikutjho kibo boke: Qaphelani [“Hlalani nilindile”, NW]!”—Markosi 13:33-37.

¹¹ Kuthe abalandeli bakaJesu bangalemuka ukuthi uJesu selathomile ukubusa ngo-1914 balindela bona isiphelo singafika nanyana kunini. Yeke bazilungiselela ngokuthi batjhumayele khudlwana. UJesu wathi kungenzeka afike, “phakathi kobusuku, ngamasa namkha ekuseni.” Nakhibe lokho kwenzeka, yini ebekufuze abalandeli bakhe bayenze? UJesu wathi “Yelelani [“Hlalani nilindile”, NW].” Ngitjho nanyana singazizwa ngasuthi sekusikhathi eside silindile, lokho akutjho bona  kusazokuthatha esinye godu isikhathi ngaphambi kobana kufike isiphelo, nokuthi angekhe sifike eenkhathini zethu.

12. URhabakhukhu wabawani kuJehova begodu wathini uZimu nakamphendulako?

¹² Umphorofidi uRhabakhukhu naye kwamkosa bona abekezele alinde njengombana bekatjhumayela ngokubhujiswa kweJerusalema. Abanye abaphorofidi ngaphambi kwakhe nabo bakhe batjhumayela wona umlayezo loyo iminyaka eminengi. URhabakhukhu gade abona ukuthi ubukhohlakali nokungabi nokungalungi sele kukunengi ukudlula nanyana kunini ngaphambilini. Warabhela bona uJehova amsize wathi, “Kunini ngibiza, [Jehova], ngifunana nesizo.” Ngitjho nanyana uJehova angakhenge atjele uRhabakhukhu bona isiphelo sizokufika nini, wamthembisa wathi, ‘angeze beliriyade.’ UJehova wabuye watjela uRhabakhukhu ukuthi, ‘lilindele.’—Funda uRhabakhukhu 1:1-4; 2:3.

13. Ngiyiphi indlela uRhabakhukhu ebekangacabanga ngayo? Kubayini lokho bekungaba yingozi?

¹³ Akhucabange ukuthi bekuzokwenzekani ngathana uRhabakhukhu wadinwa ukulinda isiphelo, mhlamunye wathi, ‘Nakungimi yena sekusikhathi eside ngilindele ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema. Isiphelo asizukufika nje nanje. Abe akutlhogeki ngisolo ngitjhumayele ngaso. Kuzakutjhumayela abanye.’ Yini ebeyizokwenzeka ngathana wacabanga njalo? UJehova bekangekhe asamamukela. Bekuzakuthi nakufika isiphelo simfumane angakasilungeli bese naye afe.

14. Kubayini sizokuthokoza uJehova ngokuthi usiyelelisile bona silindele isiphelo?

¹⁴ Akhuzicabange usephasini elitjha. Zoke iimphorofido zakaJehova sele zizalisekile. Uzokuthembela kuJehova khulu-ke kwanjesi, begodu uzokuqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzoziphetha zoke iinthembiso zakhe. (Funda uJotjhuwa 23:14.) Kuyakuthabisa ukwazi ukuthi uJehova ubeke isikhathi esifaneleko sokuletha isiphelo, nokuthi ubayelelisile abantu ngaso, bona basilindele.—IzEnzo 1:7; 1 Pitrosi 4:7.

15, 16. Kubayini kufuze senze koke okusemandlenethu bona sitjhumayele hlangana nesikhathi sokuphelesi?

¹⁵ Ihlangano kaJehova izokuhlala isikhumbuza ukuthi sihlale sidzimelele ekulotjheni uJehova. Iinkhumbuzwezi zisikhumbuza bonyana sihlale simajadu  ekusebenzeleni uZimu zibuye zisikhumbuze ukuthi umsebenzi lo urhabeke kanganani. Siyaqiniseka bona iimbonakaliso uJesu akhuluma ngazo zizaliseka namhlanjesi nokuthi isiphelo sizokufika msinyana. Kufuze senze uJehova eze qangi emaphilwenethu begodu sitjhumayele iindaba ezimnandi zomBuso kaZimu.—Matewu 6:33; Markosi 13:10.

¹⁶ Nasitjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi ebantwini, siba nelungelo lokusindisa amaphilwabo ephasini lakaSathana elizokubhujiswa msinyazana nje. Ingozi embi khulu ekhe yenzeka ngile eyenzeka ngo-1945 mzukwana isikepe esibizwa ngokuthi yi-Wilhelm Gustloff sitjhingela elwandle. Kileso senzakalo kwahlongakala iinkulungwana zabantu. Udade othileko nendodakwakhe basindiswa esikepeneso. Uyakhumbula ukuthi njengombana isikepesi sitjhinga nje bekunomunye umma obekalila athi, “Ibhegami! Maye ibhegami! Ubucwebe bami hle! Ubucwebe bami buwele phasapha. Ngilobe yoke into ebenginayo!” Kodwana abanye abakhweli bebazi ukuthi yini eqakatheke khulu, yeke besebenza ngamandla bona basindise amaphilo wabantu. Nanamhlanjesi amaphilo wabantu asengozini. Nathi sifuna ukufana nabakhwelaba abanehliziyo ehle, kufuze sidzimelele ekuqakathekeni komsebenzethu. Kufuze senze koke okusemandlenethu ukuthi sisize abantu basinde nakuphela iphaseli.

17. Kubayini kufuze sikholwe ukuthi isiphelo singafika nanyana kunini?

 ¹⁷ Sibona kusesenje ukuthi iimphorofido zeBhayibheli ziyazaliseka nokuthi isiphelo sephaseli siseduze khulu. Njenganje silindele, “Iimpondo ezilitjhumi” “nesibandana” semmangweni bona ziphendukele amasondo wamala, sewawoke abizwa ngeBhabhiloni Ledumo. (IsAmbulo 17:16) Akukafuzi silindele ukuthi kusazokuphela isikhathi eside ngaphambi kobana kufike isiphelo. Kufuze uhlale ukhumbula ukuthi uZimu “ukubekile eenhliziyweni zazo” ukuthi zihlasele amasondo wamala la, lokho kungenzeka ngokuphazima kwelihlo. (IsAmbulo 17:17) Ukuphela kwephasi lakaSathana elikhohlakelekweli kutjhidele. Yeke kufuze silalele isiyeleliso sakaJesu esithi, “Yelelani, nakungasinjalo, iinhliziyo zenu zizakudisibezwa kurhiribidela, kudakwa kanye neemfiso zepilo. Ilangelo lizanembatha njengesifu ningakatjheji. Lizakwembatha boke abahlala ebusweni bephasi loke.” (Lukasi 21:34, 35; IsAmbulo 16:15) Khesihlale siyelela, sihlale simajadu emsebenzini kaJehova, sithembele ukuthi “usiza labo abamqalelelako.”—Isaya 64:4.

18. Esihlokweni esilandelako sizokuphendula muphi umbuzo?

¹⁸ Njengombana silindele ukuphela kwephasi lakaSathana elikhohlakelekweli, kufuze silalele isiyeleliso umfundi uJuda asitjho nasithi, “Bathandekako, zakheni ekukholweni kwenu okucwengileko, nithandaze” ngomoya ocwengileko. “Hlalani ethandweni lakaZimu, nilindele isirhawu seKosethu uJesu Krestu, esisiletha ekuphileni okungapheliko.” (Juda 20, 21) Thina-ke singatjengisa njani bona sililindele iphasi elitjha lakaZimu ukuthi lifike msinyana? Ngilokho esizokucoca ngakho esihlokweni esilandelako.