1. Singatholaphi ukuthi ikusasa liphetheni?

UKE wazibukela izindaba kuthelevishini wabe usuzibuza, ‘Kazi iyozala nkomoni kuleli zwe?’ Izinto ezihlasimulisayo zenzeka ngokuphazima kweso futhi kungalindelekile kangangokuba akekho noyedwa ongabikezela ukuthi ikusasa liphetheni. (Jakobe 4:14) Nokho, uJehova uyazi ukuthi ikusasa liphetheni. (Isaya 46:10) Endulo, iZwi lakhe iBhayibheli alibikezelanga nje kuphela izinto ezimbi ezenzeka osukwini lwethu kodwa futhi nezinto ezinhle ezizokwenzeka esikhathini esiseduze esizayo.

2, 3. Yimuphi umbuzo abafundi bakaJesu abambuza wona, futhi wawuphendula kanjani?

² UJesu Kristu wakhuluma ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, oyoqeda ububi futhi wenze umhlaba ube yipharadesi. (Luka 4:43) Abantu babefuna ukwazi ukuthi lo Mbuso uyofika nini. Eqinisweni abafundi bakaJesu bambuza: “Siyoba yini isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakho nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto?” (Mathewu 24:3) Ebaphendula, uJesu wabatshela ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu kuphela owazi ngokuthé ngqo ukuthi ukuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto kuyofika nini. (Mathewu 24:36) Kodwa uJesu wazibikezela izinto ezaziyokwenzeka  emhlabeni ngaphambi nje kokuba uMbuso ulethele isintu ukuthula nokulondeka kwangempela. Lezo zinto azibikezela ziyenzeka manje!

³ Ngaphambi kokuhlola ubufakazi bokuthi siphila ‘esiphelweni sesimiso sezinto,’ ake sifunde kafushane ngempi okungekho muntu owayengayibona. Yenzeka ezulwini (elingabonakali), futhi umphumela wayo uyasithinta.

4, 5. (a) Kwénzekani ezulwini ngokushesha nje ngemva kokubekwa kukaJesu njengeNkosi? (b) NgokwesAmbulo 12:12, wawuzoba yini umphumela wempi eyayisezulwini?

⁴ Isahluko esandulele sale ncwadi sichaze ukuthi uJesu Kristu waba iNkosi ezulwini ngonyaka ka-1914. (Daniyeli 7:13, 14) Ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuthola amandla oMbuso, uJesu wathatha isinyathelo. IBhayibheli lithi: “Kwagqashuka impi ezulwini. UMikayeli [elinye igama likaJesu] nezingelosi zakhe balwa nodrako [uSathane uDeveli], nodrako nezingelosi zakhe balwa.” * USathane nezingelosi zakhe ezimbi, amademoni, bahlulwa kuleyo mpi base bexoshwa ezulwini baphoswa emhlabeni. Amadodana kaNkulunkulu omoya athembekile ajabula ngoba uSathane namademoni akhe base bexoshiwe. Nokho, abantu bona abajabulanga. Esikhundleni sokujabula, iBhayibheli labikezela: “Mayé ngomhlaba . . . ngoba uDeveli wehlele kini, ethukuthele kakhulu, azi ukuthi unesikhathi esifushane.”—IsAmbulo 12:7, 9, 12.

⁵ Siza uphawule ukuthi wawuzoba yini umphumela wempi eyayisezulwini. Njengoba ethukuthele eveva, uSathane wayezoletha umayé, noma izinkathazo, phezu komhlaba. Njengoba uzobona, manje siphila kuleyo nkathi kamayé. Kodwa-ke le nkathi izoba mfushane—‘isikhathi esifushane’ nje kuphela. Ngisho noSathane uyakwazi lokho.  IBhayibheli libiza le nkathi ngokuthi ‘izinsuku zokugcina.’ (2 Thimothewu 3:1) Yeka ukuthi sijabula kangakanani ngokuthi uNkulunkulu uzoliqeda ngokushesha ithonya likaDeveli emhlabeni! Ake sicabangele ezinye zezinto ezabikezelwa eBhayibhelini esezenzeka manje. Lezi zinto zifakazela ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina nokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngokushesha uzobalethela izibusiso ezihlala njalo labo abathanda uJehova. Okokuqala, masihlole izici ezine zesibonakaliso uJesu athi siyophawula isikhathi esiphila kuso.

6, 7. Amazwi kaJesu mayelana nezimpi nokusweleka kokudla agcwaliseka kanjani namuhla?

⁶ “Isizwe siyovukela isizwe nombuso uvukele umbuso.” (Mathewu 24:7) Kuye kwabulawa izigidi zabantu ezimpini phakathi nekhulu leminyaka edlule. Esinye isazi-mlando saseBrithani sabhala: “Kuye kwachitheka igazi eliningi kakhulu kuleli khulu lama-20 kunanoma yisiphi esinye isikhathi emlandweni. . . . Kuleli khulu leminyaka kuye kwalwiwa umshawushile, futhi zaba mbalwa izikhathi okwakungalwiwa ngazo endaweni ethile.” Umbiko we-Worldwatch Institute uthi: “Izimpi zibulale abantu abaphindwe kathathu kuleli khulu [lama-20] uma kuqhathaniswa nezimpi zekhulu lokuqala AD  kuze kube u-1899.” Kuye kwafa abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyikhulu ngenxa yezimpi kusukela ngo-1914. Noma kungathiwa siyabazi ubuhlungu bokufelwa othandekayo oyedwa empini, singagcina ngokuqagela nje ukuthi bunjani lobo buhlungu nosizi uma sekufe izigidi.

⁷ “Kuyoba khona ukusweleka kokudla.” (Mathewu 24:7) Abacwaningi bathi ukukhiqizwa kokudla kuye kwanda kakhulu eminyakeni engu-30 edlule. Noma kunjalo, ukusweleka kokudla kuyaqhubeka ngenxa yokuthi abantu abaningi abanayo imali eyanele yokuthenga ukudla noma indawo abangalima kuyo. Emazweni asathuthuka, abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyinkulungwane kumelwe baphile ngemali engangeRandi noma ngaphansi ngosuku. Iningi lalaba bantu lihlale lilambile. I-World Health Organization ilinganisela ukuthi ukungondleki kuyimbangela enkulu yokufa kwabantwana abangaphezu kwezigidi ezinhlanu unyaka nonyaka.

8, 9. Yini ebonisa ukuthi iziprofetho zikaJesu mayelana nokuzamazama komhlaba nezifo eziwumshayabhuqe ziye zagcwaliseka?

⁸ “Kuyoba khona ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba.” (Luka 21:11) Ngokwe-Geological Survey yase-United States, kulinganiselwa ukuthi njalo ngonyaka kuba nokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu okungu-19. Kunamandla ngokwanele ukuba kubhidlize  izakhiwo futhi kuqhekeze umhlabathi. Ngokwesilinganiso, njalo ngonyaka kuye kwaba nokuzamazama komhlaba okukodwa okunamandla okuvithiza izakhiwo. Imibiko ibonisa ukuthi ukuzamazama komhlaba kubulale abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezimbili kusukela ngo-1900. Omunye umbiko wezindaba uthi: “Intuthuko kwezobuchwepheshe ilinciphise kancane inani labafayo.”

⁹ “Kuyoba khona . . . izifo eziwumshayabhuqe.” (Luka 21:11) Naphezu kwentuthuko yezokwelapha, izifo ezintsha nezindala ziyaqhubeka zihlupha isintu. Omunye umbiko uthi izifo ezaziwayo ezingu-20—ezihlanganisa isifo sofuba, umalaleveva, nesifo sohudo—ziye zanda eminyakeni yamuva, futhi ezinye izinhlobo zezifo kuya kuba nzima ukuzelapha ngamaphilisi. Eqinisweni, kuye kwavela izifo ezintsha okungenani ezingu-30. Ezinye zazo azelapheki futhi ziyabulala.

10. Yiziphi izici ezabikezelwa kweyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:1-5 ozibona kubantu namuhla?

¹⁰ Ngaphandle kokuchaza izigigaba zomhlaba, iBhayibheli labikezela nokuthi ezinsukwini zokugcina kwakuyoba noshintsho emphakathini wesintu. Umphostoli uPawulu wachaza ukuthi iningi labantu laliyoba njani. Kweyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:1-5 siyafunda: “Ezinsukwini zokugcina kuyofika izikhathi  ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo.” UPawulu wathi abantu bayoba

• abazithandayo

• abathanda imali

• abangalaleli abazali

• abangathembeki

• abangenalo uthando

• abangenakho ukuzithiba

• abanolaka

• abathandi benjabulo kunokuba abathandi bakaNkulunkulu

• abanesimo sokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kodwa bewaphika amandla ako

11. IHubo 92:7 likuchaza kanjani lokho okuzokwenzeka kubantu ababi?

¹¹ Ingabe abantu banjalo emphakathini wakini? Cishe banjalo. Abantu kuyo yonke indawo banezici ezimbi. Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi ngokushesha uNkulunkulu uzothatha isinyathelo, ngoba iBhayibheli lithi: “Lapho ababi behluma njengezimila, nabo bonke abakwenza umkhuba okulimazayo beqhakaza, kungenjongo yokuba babhuqwe kuze kube phakade.”—IHubo 92:7.

12, 13. “Ulwazi lweqiniso” luye lwaba luningi ngayiphi indlela kulesi ‘sikhathi sokuphela’?

¹² Ngempela izinsuku zokugcina  zigcwele umayé, njengoba nje iBhayibheli labikezela. Nokho, kuleli zwe elisenkathazweni, zikhona izenzakalo ezinhle phakathi kwabakhulekeli bakaJehova.

¹³ Incwadi yeBhayibheli kaDaniyeli yabikezela: “Ulwazi lweqiniso luyoba luningi.” Kwakuyokwenzeka nini lokhu? Phakathi ‘nesikhathi sokuphela.’ (Daniyeli 12:4) Ikakhulukazi kusukela ngo-1914, uJehova uye wasiza labo abafuna ngempela ukumkhonza ukuba bakhule ekuqondeni kwabo iBhayibheli. Baye bawaqonda ngokwengeziwe amaqiniso ayigugu anjengegama likaNkulunkulu nezinjongo zakhe, umnikelo wesihlengo sikaJesu Kristu, isimo sabafileyo kanye novuko. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abakhulekeli bakaJehova baye bafunda ukuphila ngendlela ebazuzisayo neletha udumo kuNkulunkulu. Baye bayiqonda ngokucacile indima yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nokuthi uzozilungisa kanjani izimo emhlabeni. Benzani ngalolu lwazi? Lo mbuzo usiletha kwesinye futhi isiprofetho esigcwaliseka kulezi nsuku zokugcina.

14. Ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kwande kangakanani namuhla, futhi obani abazishumayelayo?

¹⁴ Esiprofethweni sakhe “sesiphelo sesimiso sezinto” uJesu Kristu wathi: “Lezi zindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe.” (Mathewu 24:3, 14) Emhlabeni kabanzi, izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso—ukuthi uMbuso uyini, lokho oyokufeza, nokuthi singazithola kanjani izibusiso zawo—zishunyayelwa emazweni angaphezu kuka-230, ngezilimi ezingaphezu kuka-400. Izigidi zoFakazi BakaJehova zishumayela lezi zindaba ezinhle zoMbuso ngentshiseko. Bavela “kuzo zonke izizwe nezinhlanga nabantu nezilimi.” (IsAmbulo 7:9) OFakazi baqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya zamahhala nezigidi zabantu abafuna ukwazi ukuthi lifundisani ngempela iBhayibheli. Yeka ukugcwaliseka okuhlaba umxhwele kweziprofetho, ikakhulukazi njengoba uJesu abikezela ukuthi amaKristu eqiniso ayeyoba “yizinto zokuzondwa abantu bonke”!—Luka 21:17.

15. (a) Ingabe uyakholelwa ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina, futhi ngani? (b) Kuyosho ukuthini “ukuphela” kulabo abaphikisana noJehova nakulabo abazithoba ngaphansi kokubusa koMbuso kaNkulunkulu?

¹⁵ Njengoba ziningi kangaka iziprofetho zeBhayibheli ezigcwalisekayo namuhla, awuvumi yini ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina? Ngemva kokuba izindaba ezinhle sezishunyayelwe kwaze kwaba yilapho uJehova esenelisekile, “ukuphela” kuyofika nakanjani. (Mathewu 24:14) “Ukuphela” kusho isikhathi uNkulunkulu ayoqeda ngaso ububi emhlabeni. Ukuze abhubhise bonke abaphikisana naye ngamabomu, uJehova uyosebenzisa uJesu nezingelosi ezinamandla. (2 Thesalonika 1:6-9) USathane namademoni akhe ngeke besazidukisa izizwe. Ngemva kwalokho, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uyothululela izibusiso phezu kwabo bonke abazithoba ngaphansi kokubusa kwawo okulungileyo.—IsAmbulo 20:1-3; 21:3-5.

16. Yini okuzoba ukuhlakanipha ukuba uyenze?

¹⁶ Njengoba ukuphela kwesimiso sikaSathane sekuseduze, kudingeka sizibuze, ‘Yini okumelwe ngabe mina ngiyayenza?’ Kuwukuhlakanipha ukuqhubeka ufunda okwengeziwe ngoJehova nangalokho akufunayo kithi. (Johane 17:3) Yiba umfundi weBhayibheli ozimisele. Kwenze umkhuba ukuzihlanganisa njalo nalabo abafuna ukwenza intando kaJehova. (Hebheru 10:24, 25) Ngenisa ulwazi oluningi uJehova uNkulunkulu aye walunika abantu emhlabeni wonke, bese wenza izinguquko ezidingekayo ekuphileni kwakho ukuze uthole umusa kaNkulunkulu.—Jakobe 4:8.

17. Kungani ukubhujiswa kwababi kuyobazuma abaningi?

¹⁷ UJesu wabikezela ukuthi abantu abaningi bayobushalazela ubufakazi bokuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina. Ukubhujiswa kwababi kuzofika ngokushesha futhi kungalindelekile. Kuhle kwesela ebusuku, kuyobazuma abaningi. (1 Thesalonika 5:2) UJesu waxwayisa: “Njengoba nje zazinjalo izinsuku zikaNowa, kuyoba njalo nokuba khona kweNdodana  yomuntu. Ngoba njengoba babenjalo ngalezo zinsuku zangaphambi kukazamcolo, bedla, bephuza, amadoda eshada nabesifazane bendiswa, kwaze kwaba usuku uNowa angena ngalo emkhunjini; futhi benganakanga kwaze kwafika uzamcolo, wabakhukhula bonke, kuyoba njalo nokuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu.”—Mathewu 24:37-39.

18. Yisiphi isixwayiso sikaJesu okumelwe sisilalelisise?

¹⁸ Ngenxa yalokho, uJesu watshela izilaleli zakhe: “Qaphelani ukuba izinhliziyo zenu zingalokothi zisindwe ukuminza nokuphuza kakhulu nezinkathazo zokuphila, ngokungazelelwe lolo suku lunifice ngaso leso sikhathi, njengogibe. Ngoba luyofikela bonke abahlala kuwo wonke umhlaba. Khona-ke, hlalani niphapheme, ngaso sonke isikhathi ninxusa ukuba niphumelele ekuphunyukeni kuzo zonke lezi zinto ezimiselwe ukwenzeka, nasekumeni [namukeleka] phambi kweNdodana yomuntu.” (Luka 21:34-36) Kuwukuhlakanipha ukuwalalelisisa la mazwi kaJesu. Ngani? Ngoba labo abamukelwa uJehova uNkulunkulu kanye ‘neNdodana yomuntu,’ uJesu Kristu, banethemba lokusinda lapho isimiso sezinto sikaSathane siphela futhi baphile phakade ezweni elihle elisha eseliseduze kangaka!—Johane 3:16; 2 Petru 3:13.