1. Kungaphi lapho esingafunda khona ngekusasa?

WAKE wabukela izindaba kuthelevizhini wasala usuzibuza ukuthi, ‘Kambe umhlaba lo uzaphetha ngani?’ Izingozi ziyenzakala singazilindelanga okokuthi akulamuntu owenelisa ukusitshela ukuthi ikusasa lethu lizabe linjani. (UJakhobe 4:14) Kodwa uJehova uyakwazi ukuthi ikusasa lethu lizabe linjani. (U-Isaya 46:10) ILizwi lakhe iBhayibhili alikhulumanga ngezinto ezimbi kuphela ezazizakwenzakala ngesikhathi sethu, kodwa lakhuluma langezinto ezinhle ezazizakuba khona esikhathini esiseduze esizayo.

2, 3. Abafundi bambuzani uJesu, njalo wabaphendula wathini?

² UJesu Khristu wakhuluma ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ozasusa ububi njalo ozakwenza ukuthi umhlaba ube lipharadayisi. (ULukha 4:43, The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Abantu babefuna ukwazi ukuthi uMbuso wawuzafika nini. Abafundi bakaJesu bambuza bathi: “Kuzakuba lesiboniso bani sokuza kwakho lokucina kwesikhathi na?” (UMathewu 24:3) UJesu wabaphendula wathi nguJehova uNkulunkulu kuphela okwaziyo ukuthi ukucina kwesikhathi kuzakuba khona nini. (UMathewu 24:36) Kodwa uJesu wakhuluma ngezinto ezazizakwenzakala  uMbuso ungakalethi ukuthula kweqiniso lokuvikeleka ebantwini. Lokho yikho kanye okwenzakalayo khathesi!

³ Singakahloli ubufakazi bokuthi siphila ekupheleni kwesikhathi yini, ake sixoxe kafitshane ngempi engazange ibonwe ngumuntu. Impi le yalwiwa endaweni yomoya, njalo umpumela wayo uyasithinta.

4, 5. (a) Ngemva nje kokubekwa kukaJesu njengeNkosi kwenzakalani ezulwini? (b) ISambulo 12:12 sithi kwakuzakwenzakalani ngemva kwempi eyalwelwa ezulwini?

⁴ Isahluko esisanda kusifunda ebhukwini leli sichasise ukuthi uJesu Khristu waba yiNkosi ezulwini ngo-1914. (Bala uDanyeli 7:13, 14.) Ngemva kwalokho, uJesu wenza okuthile. IBhayibhili lithi: “Kwaba lempi ezulwini. UMikhayeli [elinye ibizo likaJesu] lezingilosi balwa lomgobho [uSathane uDeveli], kwathi umgobho kanye lezingilosi zawo lawo walwa labo.” * Empini le, uSathane lezingilosi zakhe ezimbi ezingamadimoni behlulwa basebexotshwa ezulwini baphoselwa emhlabeni. Izingilosi zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekileyo zathokoza ngoba uSathane lamadimoni akhe babengasekho ezulwini. Kodwa abantu babengasoze bathokoze ngoba iBhayibhili lathi: ‘Maye kuwo umhlaba, ngoba omubi useze phansi kini! Ugcwele intukuthelo, ngoba uyakwazi ukuthi isikhathi sakhe sifitshane.’​—ISambulo 12:7, 9, 12.

⁵ Nanzelela ukuthi kwakuzakwenzakalani ngemva kwempi le eyalwelwa ezulwini. Ukuthukuthela kukaSathane kwakuzakwenza ukuthi alethe ‘umaye’ kumbe izinhlupho ebantwini abasemhlabeni. Njengoba uzabona, khathesi siphila esikhathini ‘sikamaye.’ Kodwa akusoze kube yisikhathi eside, kuzakuba ‘yisikhathi esifitshane.’ USathane laye uyakwazi lokhu. IBhayibhili lithi isikhathi lesi ‘ngesezinsuku zokucina.’ (2 KuThimothi 3:1) Kumele kusithokozise kakhulu ukuthi sekuseduze ukuthi uNkulunkulu asuse bonke ububi obubangelwa  nguDeveli emhlabeni! Ake sixoxe ngezinye izinto ezenzakalayo lamuhla ezakhulunywa eBhayibhilini. Lezizinto ziyibufakazi bokuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokucina, njalo zitshengisa ukuthi sekuseduze ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ulethele abantu abathanda uJehova izibusiso ezingapheliyo. Ake siqale ngokuhlola izinto ezine zesiboniso uJesu athi sasizatshengisa ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokucina.

6, 7. Okwakhulunywa nguJesu mayelana lezimpi lendlala kugcwaliseka njani lamuhla?

⁶ “Isizwe sizahlasela isizwe, lombuso uhlasele umbuso.” (UMathewu 24:7) Eminyakeni engu-100 edlulileyo kube lezimpi ezibulale izigidi zabantu. Omunye owaseBritain obona ngezembali wabhala wathi: “Imbali itshengisa ukuthi kwabulawa abantu abanengi kakhulu ekhulwini lesi-20. . . . Kwakulezimpi ezingapheliyo kulelokhulu leminyaka, njalo zilutshwana izikhathi owawuthola khona kungelampi emhlabeni wonke.” Umbiko ovela enhlanganisweni ebona ngokwenzakala emhlabeni okuthiwa yi-Worldwatch Institute uthi: “Inani labantu abafa ezimpini ngekhulu [lesi-20] liledlula kathathu inani labantu abafa ezimpini zonke ezenzakala ekhulwini lokuqala AD kusiya kubo-1899.” Kusukela ngo-1914, izimpi zibulale  abantu abedlula izigidi ezingu-100. Izigidi zabantu zake zabuzwa ubuhlungu bokufelwa yizihlobo zazo empini. Mhlawumbe lawe wake wafelwa yisihlobo sakho empini.

⁷ “Kuzakuba lendlala.” (UMathewu 24:7) Abacubunguli bathi ukudla bekulokhu kusiba kunengi eminyakeni engu-30 edlulileyo. Kodwa indlala iyaqhubeka ngenxa yokuthi abantu abanengi kabalamali eyeneleyo yokuthenga ukudla kumbe abalandawo yokulima. Emazweni asathuthuka, abantu abedlula ibhiliyoni baphila ngomholo wemali engange-US$1 kumbe engaphansi kwaleyomali ngelanga. Inengi lalababantu liqhubeka liswela ukudla. Inhlanganiso ebona ngezempilakahle okuthiwa yi-World Health Organization icabangela ukuthi ukuswelakala kokudla okwakha umzimba yikho okubangela ukufa kwabantwana abedlula izigidi ezingu-5 umnyaka ngamunye.

8, 9. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi okwakhulunywa nguJesu mayelana lokuzamazama komhlaba lezifo kuliqiniso?

⁸ “Kuzakuba kunengi ukuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu.” (ULukha 21:11) Kusukela ngo-1990 iqembu labezesayensi ele-U.S. Geological Survey belicabangela ukuthi kungaba lokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu okungu-19 umnyaka ngamunye. Lokhu kuzabe kukukhulu kakhulu okokuthi kungabhidliza izakhiwo njalo kutshiye umhlabathi uqhekekile. Isilinganiso  sitshengisa ukuthi umnyaka ngamunye kube lokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu okubhidlize izakhiwo. Imibiko egciniweyo itshengisa ukuthi kusukela ngomnyaka ka-1900 ukuzamazama komhlaba sekubulale abantu abedlula izigidi ezimbili. Omunye umbiko uthi: “Ukuthuthuka kwemitshina yakulezinsuku kwehlise inani labantu abafayo kancane nje.”

⁹ ‘Kuzakuba lezifo.’ (ULukha 21:11) Lanxa kusiba lentuthuko kwezokwelapha, abantu balokhu behlaselwa yimikhuhlane yakudala leminye emitsha. Omunye umbiko uthi ematshumini eminyaka esanda kudlula, imikhuhlane eyaziwayo engu-20 egoqela ufuba, uqhuqho kanye lesihudo ilokhu isanda njalo eminye kulokhu kusiba nzima ukuthi yelapheke ngemithi. Sekube leminye imikhuhlane emitsha engaba ngu-30. Eminye yakhona akwaziwa ukuthi ingelatshwa ngani njalo iyabulala.

10. Yikuphi okwakhulunywa ku-2 Thimothi 3:1-5 okubona ebantwini lamuhla?

¹⁰ Ngaphandle kokuchasisa ngalokho okwakuzakwenzakala emhlabeni, iBhayibhili laphinda lathi ezinsukwini zokucina abantu babezantshintsha. Umphostoli uPhawuli wachasisa ukuthi abantu babezakuba njani. Sitshelwa ukuthi: “Ezinsukwini zokucina  kuzakuba lezikhathi ezinzima.” (Bala u-2 Thimothi 3:1-5.) UPhawuli wathi abantu babezakuba

• ngabazithandayo

• ngabathanda imali

• ngabangalaleli abazali babo

• ngabangabongiyo

• ngabangelathando

• ngabangazikhuziyo

• ngabalesihluku

• ngabathanda injabulo kulokuthanda uNkulunkulu

• ngabalesimo sokukholwa kuNkulunkulu kodwa belandula amandla akho ukukholwa

11. IHubo 92:7 lithi kuzakwenzakalani ebantwini ababi?

¹¹ Sebenjalo yini abantu emphakathini wangakini? Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi sebenjalo. Kuyo yonke indawo kugcwele abantu abangelabuntu. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi sekuseduze ukuthi uNkulunkulu athathe inyathelo, ngoba iBhayibhili lithi: “Loba ababi bemila njengotshani lezigangi zonke ziphumelela, zizabhujiswa nini lanini.”​—IHubo 92:7.

12, 13. ‘Ulwazi’ lweqiniso selwande kangakanani ‘ngesikhathi sokucina’ esiphila kuso?

¹² Njengoba iBhayibhili lakhuluma,  izinsuku zokucina zigcwele ‘umaye.’ Kodwa kulezinto ezinhle ezenzakalayo ebantwini abakhonza uJehova lanxa kulezinhlupho ezinjalo emhlabeni.

¹³ Ibhuku leBhayibhili uDanyeli, latshengisa ukuthi ‘ulwazi luzakwanda.’ Lolu lulwazi lweqiniso ngoNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwakuzakwenzakala nini? Kwakuzakwenzakala ‘ngesikhathi sokucina.’ (UDanyeli 12:4) Kusukela ngo-1914, uJehova ubelokhu enceda labo abafuna ukumkhonza ngeqiniso ukuthi baqhubeke belizwisisa kuhle iBhayibhili. Sebezwisisa iqiniso eliyigugu mayelana lebizo likaNkulunkulu lezinjongo zakhe, umhlatshelo wenhlawulo kaJesu Khristu, isimo sabafileyo kanye lokuvuswa kwabo. Izikhonzi zikaJehova sezifunde lokuphila ngendlela enceda zona njalo edumisa uNkulunkulu. Okunye esezikuzwisisa ngendlela ecacileyo yilokho okuzakwenziwa nguMbuso kaNkulunkulu lokuthi uzalungisa njani izinto emhlabeni. Zenzani ngolwazi lolu? Umbuzo lo sizawuphendula ngokukhangela esinye isiphrofetho esigcwalisekayo kulezizinsuku zokucina.

14. Ivangeli loMbuso selitshunyayelwe okwebanga elinganani lamuhla, njalo ngobani abalitshumayelayo?

¹⁴ UJesu waphrofetha ‘ngokucina’ komumo lo wezinto esithi: “Lelivangeli lombuso lizatshunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba.” (Bala uMathewu 24:3, 14.) Emhlabeni wonke, kutshunyayelwa ivangeli loMbuso elimayelana lokuthi uMbuso uyini, uzakwenzani, lokuthi sizazithola njani izibusiso zawo. Litshunyayelwa emazweni edlula 230 ngamakhulu ezindimi. Izigidi zaboFakazi bakaJehova zitshumayela ivangeli loMbuso ngenkuthalo. Zivela “ezizweni zonke, lezizwaneni, lasebantwini kanye lasezindimini zonke.” (ISambulo 7:9) OFakazi bakaJehova bafundisa mahala izigidi zabantu abafuna ukufunda ngokuthi iBhayibhili lifundisani sibili. Ukugcwaliseka kwesiphrofetho lesi kuyamangalisa, ikakhulu njengoba uJesu wakhuluma ukuthi amaKhristu eqiniso ‘azazondwa yibo bonke abantu’!​—ULukha 21:17.

15. (a) Uyakukholwa yini ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokucina, njalo kungani ukukholwa? (b) Ngesikhathi ‘sokucina,’ kuzakwenzakalani ebantwini abaphikisa uJehova lakulabo abazithoba eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu?

¹⁵ Njengoba iziphrofetho zeBhayibhili ezinengi zigcwaliseka lamuhla, awuvumi yini ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokucina? ‘Ukucina’ kuzafika nxa uJehova esebone ukuthi ukutshunyayelwa kwevangeli sekwanele. (UMathewu 24:14) ‘Ukucina’ kutsho isikhathi lapho uNkulunkulu azasusa khona ububi emhlabeni. UJehova uzasebenzisa uJesu lezingilosi ezilamandla ukuze abhubhise bonke abamphikisa ngabomo. (2 KwabaseThesalonika 1:6-9) USathane lamadimoni akhe kabasoze baphinde bakhohlise izizwe. Ngemva kwalokho, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uzanika labo abazithoba ekubuseni kwawo okulungileyo izibusiso ezinengi.​—ISambulo 20:1-3; 21:3-5.

16. Kuyini ongakwenza okutshengisa ukuthi ulenhlakanipho?

¹⁶ Njengoba ukuphela komhlaba obuswa nguSathane sekuseduze, kumele uzibuze ukuthi, ‘Kumele ngibe ngisenzani?’ Uyabe ulokuhlakanipha nxa uqhubeka ufunda okunengi ngoJehova njalo ufunda ngalokho afuna ukwenze. (UJohane 17:3) Funda iBhayibhili ngenkuthalo. Zijayeze ukuzihlanganisa labanye abafuna ukwenza intando kaJehova. (Bala uHebheru 10:24, 25.) Lwela ukwazi uJehova uNkulunkulu ngokufunda iLizwi lakhe, untshintshe lalapho okumele untshintshe khona empilweni yakho ukuze uthole umusa kaNkulunkulu.​—UJakhobe 4:8.

17. Kungani ukubhujiswa kwabantu ababi kuzafika abanengi belibele?

¹⁷ UJesu watshengisa ukuthi abantu abanengi babengasoze babe lendaba lobufakazi bokuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokucina. Ukubhujiswa kwabantu ababi kuzafika kungalindelwanga. Kuzafika njengesela elifika ebusuku, abantu abanengi belibele. (Bala u-1 Thesalonika 5:2.) UJesu waxwayisa wathi: “Njengoba kwakunjalo ezinsukwini zikaNowa, kuzabanjalo  ekufikeni kweNdodana yoMuntu. Ngoba ezinsukwini kungakabikhona uzamcolo, abantu babesidla benatha, bethatha njalo besendisa, kwaze kwaba lusuku uNowa angena ngalo emkhunjini; futhi [“ababanga lendaba,” NW] lalokho okwakuzakwenzeka uzamcolo waze wabatshabalalisa. Kuzakuba njalo ekufikeni kweNdodana yoMuntu.”​—UMathewu 24:37-39.

18. Yisiphi isixwayiso esasinikwa nguJesu okumele sisiqakathekise?

¹⁸ Yikho uJesu watshela ababemlalele wathi: “Nanzelelani funa izinhliziyo zenu zithundubale ngokuzitika lokudakwa lokunqineka ngezinto zempilo, ngoba lolosuku luzalijuma njengomjibila. Ngokuba luzafikela bonke labo abahlala kuwo wonke umhlaba. Hlalani lilindile, likhulekele ukuthi liphephe kukho konke osekuzakwenzeka masinyane, lokuthi libe lamandla okuma [ukwamukelwa] phambi kweNdodana yoMuntu.” (ULukha 21:34-36) Ukuqakathekisa amazwi kaJesu kuyikuhlakanipha. Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi labo abamukelwa nguJehova uNkulunkulu ‘leNdodana yoMuntu,’ uJesu Khristu, balethemba lokusinda nxa sekufika ukuphela komhlaba obuswa nguSathane, lelokuthola ukuphila okungapheliyo emhlabeni omutsha omuhle osuseduze!​—UJohane 3:16; 2 UPhetro 3:13.